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Context: House Hansard - 266 - Dec/12/23

May/27/24 8:05:39 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, earlier today we heard the minister speaking to this bill, and he was talking about the importance of having sustainable, clean, renewable energy move in that direction as well as aligning that with a thriving fishery. We have heard some concerns from local fishers that this wind energy will result in a loss of fishing areas for some of the fishers. Can the member speak to what plans are in place to support fishers who may be impacted through this transition to have further sustainable clean energy?

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Context: House Hansard - 232 - Oct/16/23

Dec/12/23 3:13:22 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, open-net fish farms pollute our waters and impact food security. In 2022 alone, more than 800,000 herring were killed because of open-net fish farm activity. Now, the B.C. premier says the social licence for these fish farms has expired. The Liberals promised to get these farms out of the water by 2025 with a real jobs plan, yet so far there has been nothing, so I will ask again, where is the plan so coastal communities, workers and first nations are not left behind?

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Context: House Hansard - 182 - Apr/21/23

Oct/16/23 12:27:01 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-49

Madam Speaker, we know that there is enormous potential for a thriving offshore renewable energy industry in Atlantic Canada and that we need to make sure that those benefits are felt by local communities and local fishers. Will the government guarantee that the benefits from offshore wind projects will flow directly to local workers and that the local fishing communities will be supported?

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All Topics

Context: House Hansard - 164 - Mar/6/23

Apr/21/23 10:42:09 a.m.
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Re: Bill C-47

Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge that I appreciate working alongside the member on the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans. I thank him for speaking about campaign promises. I was reflecting, as a fellow member on the fisheries committee, about the campaign promises of the Conservatives, and I am wondering if the member could clarify something. The Conservatives campaigned on getting open-net fish farms out of the water, yet I am hearing very different discussions happening today. I am wondering if the member can clarify what the Conservative stance is currently on the importance of getting open-net fish farms out of the water. Furthermore, what are his thoughts on the fact that the current budget does not have a commitment to support all those impacted through this very necessary transition?

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Context: House Hansard - 153 - Feb/3/23

Mar/6/23 3:10:21 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, open-net fish farms pollute our waters and harm wild Pacific salmon. The health of wild salmon is critical. First nation chiefs across British Columbia have been calling on the Prime Minister to get these harmful fish farms out of our waters, but he is refusing to meet them. He is in luck as B.C. first nations are currently in Ottawa advocating to protect wild Pacific salmon. Will the Prime Minister meet with these first nations and commit to get these fish farms out of the water, with a plan for all those impacted?

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Context: House Hansard - 151 - Feb/1/23

Feb/3/23 10:57:11 a.m.
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Re: Bill C-34

Madam Speaker, I appreciate the work that is done alongside the member in the fisheries committee. We know that one of the big components of Bill C-34 is to promote economic security and combat foreign interference by modernizing the Investment Canada Act to strengthen the national security review process and to better mitigate economic security threats arising from foreign investment. When I think about threats to foreign investment, I immediately, as a fellow fisheries committee member, think of the threats to foreign investment in our fishing industry. I am wondering if the member can share his thoughts on how this relates to, as just one example, Royal Greenland's takeover of processing plants in Newfoundland, and if it does not relate to that, what we need to do to move forward.

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Context: House Hansard - 136 - Nov/28/22

Feb/1/23 6:28:29 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-22

Mr. Speaker, I absolutely appreciated working closely with my colleague on the fisheries committee. People in the disability community are asking for this to be put ahead, for it to go to Senate and pass royal assent. Then we can do the work of having those living with disabilities as part of the process. This will ensure that the specificity is included so that we know when this is coming. There are a lot of details that need to happen to ensure that those with disabilities can have the hope they so desperately need to plan and move forward, knowing the supports they need are on the way.

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Context: House Hansard - 136 - Nov/28/22

Nov/28/22 6:57:14 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the science is clear. We know open-net fish farms need to get out of our water. We are hearing from first nations chiefs who are very clear that they want open-net fish farms out of the water. We have seen Washington state say “no more” to fish farms in the water. The Shíshálh Nation has also said no to fish farms in the water. I am hearing an argument that the scientific evidence is inconclusive, which is untrue. There is clear scientific evidence that shows that these fish farms are damaging, and even if that were not the case, we need to be implementing a precautionary approach to ensure that we are erring on the side of caution in protecting wild salmon. When will the government finally get fish farms out of the water and protect wild salmon?

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Context: House Hansard - 129 - Nov/17/22

Nov/28/22 6:49:54 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am here today because I asked a question on November 17 of the government about when it will finally return our coastal waters to wild salmon, specifically by getting open-net fish farms out of the water. The evidence is clear that these fish farms are polluting and destroying marine ecosystems and livelihoods, yet the Liberal government continues to prop up rich Norwegian CEOs, who are the owners of these fish farms, and allow them to continue on with business as usual while destroying marine life and the future of wild Pacific salmon. The minister's response, particularly in light of the detrimental consequences on our environment and coastal communities, was beyond inadequate, so I am here today to ask for action. Last Friday, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and I were invited to and attended a ceremony and meeting on the Tsleil-Waututh first nation's territory, with chiefs and representatives from first nation territories across B.C., including representation from Snuneymuxw, which is found in the riding I represent, Nanaimo—Ladysmith. They were focused on the protection of wild Pacific salmon and were united in their wish to get open-net fish farms out of the water. In this meeting, the minister and I had the honour of participating in a salmon dance, which, as a side note, is something I will carry with me forever in my memories. It was an honour. Chiefs shared the many ways that first nations and wild salmon are interconnected, not only regarding food security but regarding social, ceremonial and first nations' inherent and constitutionally protected rights to harvest fish and provide for their communities. In fact, 90% of B.C. first nations rely on wild salmon. Despite this, we are seeing historic low returns. Vital wild salmon are facing many threats, such as the impacts of climate crises, including extreme weather, flooding, heat domes, forest fires and warming waters, and all of this while we are continuing to allow fish farms in our coastal waters to damage our marine ecosystems. We see salmon left to swim through diseases and sea lice found in key migratory routes, which is all spewing from polluting fish farms that are being allowed to maintain and continue business by the government. We heard from first nations chiefs in this meeting, who spoke to the diseases being carried by fish exposed to the impacts of fish farms. They were being described as glowing and covered in sores and sea lice, which has never been seen before. There are endless examples of impacts, and first nations chiefs across British Columbia described to us impacts on both wild salmon and their coastal communities. I am wondering if my colleague can provide us with action and the reassurance today that we are going to move away from open-net fish farms and finally follow through with a plan to get them out.

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Context: House Hansard - 102 - Sep/26/22

Nov/17/22 2:50:08 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Canadians want to know when the government will finally return our coastal waters back to wild salmon. Polluting, open-net fish farms destroy ecosystems and livelihoods, but Liberals and Conservatives keep putting profits before communities. This week, Washington state said no to fish farms. Now the B.C. Sechelt First Nation said no to fish farms, but Liberals keep saying yes to rich CEOs. When will the Liberals get fish farms out of the water with a transition for workers?

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Sep/26/22 2:49:50 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, coastal communities and marine environments depend on vital species like wild salmon. The science is clear that open-net salmon farms pollute marine ecosystems. Despite promising to transition away, the Liberals just approved three fish farm expansions in Clayoquot Sound, B.C. Will the government get toxic fish farms out of the water for good, while protecting first nations, workers and communities, or not?

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May/30/22 9:12:32 p.m.
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Madam Chair, Watershed Watch and SkeenaWild recently published a report estimating that last year Alaskan fishers caught an estimated 650,000 B.C.-bound sockeye salmon while Canadian fishers caught as few as 110,000. Does the minister agree that first nations, commercial fishers and recreational fishers should be forced to keep their boats at dock while so many B.C.-bound fish are being caught in Alaska?

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May/30/22 9:11:09 p.m.
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Madam Chair, does the minister think B.C. will be able to build back better if DFO is not willing to help invest in fish-friendly infrastructure and habitat restoration?

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May/30/22 9:08:55 p.m.
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Madam Chair, fish harvesters on the west coast have felt the negative impacts of corporate ownership and anonymous licence holders without a strong owner-operator licencing model. When will the government ensure that our west coast has a beneficial licence model?

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May/30/22 9:08:07 p.m.
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Madam Chair, owner-operator licencing in the Atlantic means independent harvesters and communities benefit from our fishing industry. However, corporate concentration of processing facilities threatens their ability to get a reasonable price for their catch. How is the minister working to ensure this budget supports independent harvesters and the communities that rely on them?

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May/30/22 9:06:23 p.m.
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Madam Chair, last year's Oceana Fishery Audit highlighted that one-third of all of Canada's fish stocks remained uncertain due to insufficient data. When will DFO ensure that all of Canada's stocks have sufficient assessments completed?

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May/30/22 9:05:09 p.m.
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Madam Chair, is the government committed to having meaningful transition supports available to indigenous and rural workers who will be impacted by the removal of fish farms from B.C.'s waters?

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May/30/22 9:04:45 p.m.
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Madam Chair, across B.C. fish farm licences are up for renewal at the end of June. Will the minister's decision on these licences coincide with a clear plan about how the government will meet the promises of removing these facilities from B.C.'s waters by 2025?

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