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Minutes of Proceedings

44th Parliament, 1st Session
Meeting 97
Thursday, February 8, 2024, 3:32 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
Webcast
Presiding
Mel Arnold, Vice-Chair (Conservative)

• Pat Kelly for Clifford Small (Conservative)
• Greg McLean for Richard Bragdon (Conservative)
Library of Parliament
• Marlisa Tiedemann, Analyst
• Natacha Kramski, Analyst
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(4), the committee commenced consideration of the request by members of the committee to undertake a study of the concerns surrounding elver fishery in Nova Scotia.

Motion

Rick Perkins moved, — That, given reports concerning the illegal elver fishery in Atlantic Canada and violence that occurred in the 2023 fishing season, the committee agrees to hear plans prepared by the federal government to prevent further incidences of violence this fishing season, the committee agrees to hear testimony from: the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and Canadian Coast Guard, with departmental officials responsible for law enforcement; the Canada Border Service Agency; and the RCMP, that the committee draft a letter at the end of the study with its recommendations to the Minister invited, and that the committee agree to begin this study at its next scheduled meeting.

Debate arose thereon.

At 3:43 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 3:56 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Amendment

Lisa Marie Barron moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “in Atlantic Canada and violence” with the words “violence in the elver fishery and misunderstandings of indigenous moderate livelihood rights”.

Debate arose thereon.

At 4:21 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:25 p.m., the sitting resumed.

By unanimous consent, the amendment was withdrawn.

Debate on the motion of Rick Perkins continued.

Amendment

Robert J. Morrissey moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “begin this study at its next scheduled meeting” the words “for one meeting”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment and the result of the vote was announced:

YEAS: Serge Cormier, Brendan Hanley, Ken Hardie, Mike Kelloway, Robert J. Morrissey — 5;

NAYS: Lisa Marie Barron, Richard Bragdon, Caroline Desbiens, Pat Kelly, Rick Perkins — 5.

Whereupon, the Chair voted in the negative.

Accordingly, the amendment was negatived.

Debate on the motion of Rick Perkins continued.

Amendment

Lisa Marie Barron moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “begin this study at its next scheduled meeting” the words “for two meetings”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Lisa Marie Barron and it was agreed to.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That, given reports concerning the illegal elver fishery in Atlantic Canada and violence that occurred in the 2023 fishing season, the committee agrees to hear plans prepared by the federal government to prevent further incidences of violence this fishing season, the committee agrees to hear testimony from: the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and Canadian Coast Guard, with departmental officials responsible for law enforcement; the Canada Border Service Agency; and the RCMP, that the committee draft a letter at the end of the study with its recommendations to the Minister invited, and that the committee agree to begin this study at its next scheduled meeting for two meetings.

At 4:38 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:46 p.m., the sitting resumed in camera.

It was agreed, — That the committee move to committee business.

The committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to committee business.

It was agreed, — That, pursuant to standing order 108(2), the committee undertake a study of not less than four meetings to examine the issue of derelict and abandoned vessels on Canada’s West Coast, the impacts of such vessels on marine ecosystems and coastal communities, and the role of the federal government in relation to the issue; that this study take place immediately following the scheduled study on population sustainability of Pacific salmon stocks; that the committee call witnesses including senior Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) officials, indigenous governing bodies, provincial government representatives, organizations representing coastal residents, and industry representatives; that the committee report its findings with recommendations in a report to the House of Commons; and that, pursuant to standing order 109, the committee request that the government table a comprehensive response to the report.

It was agreed, — That pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study of up to eight meetings to conduct a comprehensive review of the Fishery Act 2019; that the committee report its findings and recommendations to the House; that the committee invite a wide array of stakeholders to comment on the act since its last update in 2019, including but not limited to a) industry experts and harvesters and representatives from labour organizations, b) indigenous harvesters and community representatives, c) representatives from environmental and conservancy organizations; that the committee invite stakeholders to submit written submissions regarding the Fishery Act, beginning at the time this motion is adopted and concluding at the end of the meetings assigned to this study and that these submissions be entered into the record as part of the study; that the committee dedicate two of the meetings to representatives from northern and remote regions; that the committee begin this immediately after the study on wrecked and abandoned vessels proposed by MP Barron; and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee request the government issue a comprehensive response to the committee's recommendations.

At 5:45 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.



Miriam Burke
Committee clerk