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House Hansard - 77

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 30, 2022 11:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 77 - May/30/22
The Deputy Chair
  • May/30/22 8:42:26 p.m.
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The time is up. Continuing with debate, we have the hon. member for Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d'Orléans—Charlevoix.
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Mrs. Caroline Desbiens (Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d'Orléans—Charlevoix, BQ)
  • May/30/22 8:42:45 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I am pleased to speak this evening. On March 30, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard closed the herring and mackerel fishery in the Gulf of St. Lawrence with no prior notice that would have enabled fishers to pivot and come up with a plan B. When did the department first observe a drop in the biomass of spring herring and mackerel?
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Hon. Joyce Murray (Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, Lib.)
  • May/30/22 8:43:30 p.m.
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Madam Chair, unfortunately, the abundance of these stocks has been on the decline for many years. This decision was not made lightly. We gave it a lot of thought, because I understand the repercussions it has on fishers who use these stocks as bait. However, it is very important that we manage these stocks so that they can grow for fishers, their children, and their grandchildren in the future.
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Mrs. Caroline Desbiens
  • May/30/22 8:44:15 p.m.
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Madam Chair, a leading scientist at the Université du Québec à Rimouski told us that he observed a significant decline in the resource more than 10 years ago, even 20 years in some places. Why did no one sound the alarm sooner to provide a bit of clarity to the fishers, who are currently feeling helpless?
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Hon. Joyce Murray
  • May/30/22 8:44:42 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I would like to thank my colleague for her question. We reduced this stock over the past 10 years. It went down little by little, but unfortunately, it was not enough to allow them to grow. That is why I closed—
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The Deputy Chair
  • May/30/22 8:45:06 p.m.
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The hon. member for Beauport—Côte‑de‑Beaupré—Île d'Orléans—Charlevoix.
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Mrs. Caroline Desbiens
  • May/30/22 8:45:11 p.m.
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Madam Chair, how is it that no one in the department had the foresight to assist fishermen, knowing that the resource is in decline? How is it possible that no one had the foresight to consider the people in this equation?
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Hon. Joyce Murray
  • May/30/22 8:45:34 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I would like to thank my colleague for her question. Many fishermen harvest other healthy stocks, such as lobster. Very few of them fish only herring and mackerel. We helped them by including them in the scientific fisheries to—
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The Deputy Chair
  • May/30/22 8:46:00 p.m.
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The hon. member for Beauport—Côte‑de‑Beaupré—Île d'Orléans—Charlevoix.
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Mrs. Caroline Desbiens
  • May/30/22 8:46:04 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I would like to know whether the minister believes that just closing the fishery is enough to restore the stocks, since the mortality rate from fishing for this species is about 6%. I am wondering whether she believes that closing the fishery will be enough to restore the resource.
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Hon. Joyce Murray
  • May/30/22 8:46:31 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I thank my colleague for her question. This fish is a food source for other very important stocks, such as cod. I realize that fishing is partially responsible for some of the pressure on this stock, but it depends on the stock. If we can increase it, and I hope we can, we will—
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The Deputy Chair
  • May/30/22 8:46:57 p.m.
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The hon. member for Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d'Orléans—Charlevoix.
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Mrs. Caroline Desbiens
  • May/30/22 8:47:00 p.m.
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Madam Chair, did the minister receive the unanimous motion tabled on April 7 by the Quebec National Assembly calling for compensation for the financial losses incurred by fishers affected by the closing of the fishery? Is the minister aware of that unanimous motion from the Quebec National Assembly?
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Hon. Joyce Murray
  • May/30/22 8:47:25 p.m.
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Madam Chair, yes, I am aware of that motion. We are currently reviewing it. At the same time, there are stocks all across the country that sometimes have to be reduced or increased. A decision is usually—
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The Deputy Chair
  • May/30/22 8:47:51 p.m.
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The hon. member for Beauport—Côte‑de‑Beaupré—Île d'Orléans—Charlevoix.
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Mrs. Caroline Desbiens
  • May/30/22 8:47:56 p.m.
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Madam Chair, will the minister respond to the motion adopted by the Quebec National Assembly?
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Hon. Joyce Murray
  • May/30/22 8:48:07 p.m.
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Madam Chair, we will review it and will, of course, respond.
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Mrs. Caroline Desbiens
  • May/30/22 8:48:14 p.m.
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Madam Chair, it is quite surprising that the government has not already done so. Could the minister give an idea of the timeline? When does she plan to assess how much compensation should be paid to these fishers who are facing a black hole, who no longer have EI, who are waiting in limbo and whose families are running out of resources and money? Some fishers and families are in dire straits. It is not true that all fishers also fish lobster. Many fishers in the Gaspé earn their living solely from herring and mackerel. I would like to know whether she plans to do something quickly.
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Hon. Joyce Murray
  • May/30/22 8:48:56 p.m.
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Madam Chair, no, there is no timeline. We are very concerned about people who are losing their jobs because of the decline in the fisheries. I know that it is very difficult, but Fisheries and Oceans Canada generally does not compensate all fishers when there is a decline, nor does it claw back money when there is an increase. We are looking into this and will respond.
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Mrs. Caroline Desbiens
  • May/30/22 8:49:39 p.m.
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Madam Chair, it is very interesting to hear the minister talk about a plan that may come to fruition in the medium term. It is a bit like agriculture. Because the climate for agriculture is unpredictable, there are all sorts of tools for overcoming certain difficulties, such as those caused by climate change. Could the minister come up with some kind of aid, such as compensation, quota transfers or emergency funds, and finally offer a plan to help fishers who are victims of sudden and unexpected decisions made by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans?
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