FOPO Committee Meeting
Notices of Meeting include information about the subject matter to be examined by the committee and date, time and place of the meeting, as well as a list of any witnesses scheduled to appear. The Evidence is the edited and revised transcript of what is said before a committee. The Minutes of Proceedings are the official record of the business conducted by the committee at a sitting.
For an advanced search, use Publication Search tool.
If you have any questions or comments regarding the accessibility of this publication, please contact us at accessible@parl.gc.ca.
Minutes of Proceedings
It was agreed, — That the Committee proceed to sit in public.
At 9:15 a.m., the sitting was suspended.
At 9:17 a.m., the sitting resumed in public.
The committee resumed consideration of the motion, as amended, which read as follows:
That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study to examine the possibility of undertaking a reform of the rules, laws and practices surrounding federal saltwater sportfishing for the Eastern Quebec region; that this study be based on the British Columbia experience in this area, as well as on the principles of access to the resource for coastal populations and the development of scientific data; that the committee call witnesses including senior departmental officials from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and interested stakeholder groups to testify; that the committee report its conclusions and recommendations to the House, and; that the committee request permission to travel in relation to this study.
After debate, the question was put on the motion, as mended, and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Mel Arnold, Richard Bragdon, Blaine Calkins, Ed Fast, Marilène Gill, Gord Johns — 6; NAYS: — 0.
The Committee resumed consideration of the motion of Blaine Calkins, — That the Committee undertake a study of the socio-economic impacts of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans’ decision to restrict recreational and commercial fishing for chinook salmon on the south coast of British Columbia in 2019 to fully understand the impact of this decision on small businesses and coastal communities; and as part of its study, the committee travel to the West Coast to meet with those impacted, including small businesses that were affected last year and are observing significant hardship in business for 2020 due to the reduction of opportunities in the public fishery; and as part of its study, the committee assess measures, including measures other than fisheries management, that could deliver increases in chinook salmon stocks while allowing for access and opportunity for harvesters.
At 9:27 a.m., the sitting was suspended.
At 9:30 a.m., the sitting resumed.
The Committee resumed consideration of the amendment of Gord Johns, — to the motion from Blaine Calkins of Tuesday, February 25, 2020 — That the motion be amended by adding the following: “That the Department give a full briefing on all public consultations that took place on the West Coast with the affected fishers”.
The question was put on the amendment of Gord Johns and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 11; NAYS: 0.
After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.
Gord Johns moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “small businesses” the following: “, and indigenous”.
After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Gord Johns and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 11; NAYS: 0.
At 9:35 a.m., the sitting was suspended.
At 9:37 a.m., the sitting resumed.
After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.
The motion, as amended, read as follows:
That the Committee undertake a study of the socio-economic impacts of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans’ decision to restrict recreational and commercial fishing for chinook salmon on the south coast of British Columbia in 2019 to fully understand the impact of this decision on small businesses, and indigenous, and coastal communities; and as part of its study, the committee travel to the West Coast to meet with those impacted, including small businesses that were affected last year and are observing significant hardship in business for 2020 due to the reduction of opportunities in the public fishery; and as part of its study, the committee assess measures, including measures other than fisheries management, that could deliver increases in chinook salmon stocks while allowing for access and opportunity for harvesters; and that the Department give a full briefing on all public consultations that took place on the west coast with the affected fishers.
It was agreed, — That senior officials be invited to appear in relation to the study of the state of the Pacific salmon on Tuesday, March 10, 2020.
It was agreed, — That senior officials be invited to appear in relation to the study of the state of the Atlantic Herring and Alternatives to Herring as Bait on Thursday, March 12, 2020.
It was agreed, — That the Minister and senior departmental officials be invited to appear before the committee at the earliest opportunity on the consideration of Main Estimates 2020-21.
At 10:34 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.