Billy Stratton, Roy Careen, Henry Thorne, Glen Best, Eldred Woodford, Keith Smith and Collin Greenham, by videoconference from St-John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, made statements and answered questions.

At 10:10 a.m., by unanimous consent and pursuant to Standing Order 115(5), it was agreed that the Committee continue to sit.

Mel Arnold moved, — That, within 48 hours of the passing of this motion:

the Committee send to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and the Minister of Transport a letter and attach to the letter the evidence received by the Committee during Meetings 87, 90 and 91;

the letter respectfully request that the two Ministers meet, by April 10, 2018 (within two weeks), to discuss the processes of licensing commercial fishing vessels, and the applicable factors of vessel length, as is administered by their respective departments;

the letter respectfully request that the Ministers direct the appropriate representatives of their departments to meet to identify steps to resolve the apparent inconsistencies of the licensing process by April 24, 2018 (within 4 weeks);

the letter respectfully request that representatives of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Department of Transport invite all holders of licenses for commercial vessels issued by federal entities in Atlantic Canada to attend consultation sessions or submit input in writing so all license holders may provide input for improving the licensing processes;

respectfully request that by June 5, 2018 (within 10 weeks), the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Minister of Transport provide the Committee a written summary of input received and steps identified by the Ministers and their departmental representatives to harmonize and rationalize the process used by federal entities to license commercial vessels and increase the safety of those operating and working on those vessel; and

respectfully request that the appropriate Minister, or both Ministers, initiate the regulatory or legislative changes required to implement the steps identified to harmonize and rationalize the process used by federal entities to license commercial vessels and increase the safety of those operating and working on those vessels.

The question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Mel Arnold, Fin Donnelly, Joël Godin, Larry Miller — 4;

NAYS: Pat Finnigan, Ken Hardie, Bernadette Jordan, Ken McDonald, Robert J. Morrissey — 5.

Questioning of the witnesses resumed.