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Bonavista – Fisheries and Oceans Minister Loyola Hearn is forcing through the Fisheries Act without giving stakeholders a voice to determine the future of the industry, Liberal Fisheries and Oceans Critic Scott Simms said today.
“Hundreds of fishing groups, environmental organizations, First Nations organizations from across the country have contacted opposition members with serious concerns about the new Act and have received very little feedback from the Minister,” said Mr. Simms. “This should be a working document for all stakeholders to analyze and discuss, but the Conservatives are unwilling to give them the opportunity to voice their opinions.”
Bill C-45, the Fisheries Act 2007, contains 253 clauses addressing co-management, licensing and allocations, habitat protection. Before second reading, Mr. Hearn stated he was open to making profound amendments, but refused to put the bill before the Fisheries and Oceans Committee to allow for greater consultations with Canadian stakeholders.
Mr. Simms pointed out that by sending the Fisheries Act to committee after second reading, any major amendments would be ruled ‘out of order’, making the bill difficult to improve.
“We are about to make major changes to a Fisheries Act that has been around for 138 years,” said Mr. Simms. “People in the industry want to make sure this is done properly, with true consultations, and the Conservatives refuse to provide that.”
“For a Minister who claims to be sincere about co-management, it seems strange that he has decided to ignore potential co-managers and force these rules through on his own.”