SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 274

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
February 2, 2024 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 274 - Feb/2/24
Mrs. Caroline Desbiens (Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d'Orléans—Charlevoix, BQ)
  • Feb/2/24 11:52:10 a.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, after four press conferences to tell us she was going to announce good news in January, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard threw us mere morsels, what some might call fish food. Saying that the government is opening the redfish fishery is a bit of a stretch. The government announced a quota of 25,000 tonnes, nearly 60% of which is allotted to big 30-metre vessels. Fishers feel that this is a 30-year step backwards. This is the government's transition plan after reducing shrimp quotas to a meagre 3,000 tonnes, to be shared with the Maritime provinces. That does not even amount to half a trip per boat. There is no long-term vision for protecting the resource or for the small inshore fishery ecosystem. Seriously, what exactly is the minister's plan? Is it to wipe out fishing in Quebec?
151 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 274 - Feb/2/24
Mrs. Caroline Desbiens (Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d'Orléans—Charlevoix, BQ)
  • Feb/2/24 11:53:28 a.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, the overpopulation of redfish, the main predator of small fish and shrimp, demonstrates an appalling lack of vision and a great deal of contempt for the expertise of fishers and for the fisheries economy in the regions. Fishers deserve a real transition plan. Instead, we are back to what destroyed the ecosystem 30 years ago. A plan would include financial compensation to support the transition and the workforce, a strategy to market redfish and new products, and well-thought-out, long-term, concrete prospects for pelagic species, shrimp, groundfish, seals and algae. When will the minister finally come up with a truly sustainable plan to ensure the survival of Quebec's fisheries?
114 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border