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e-4317 (Fisheries)

E-petition
Initiated by Emily Orr from Gabriola, British Columbia

Original language of petition: English

Petition to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

Whereas:
  • DFO’s mandate includes promoting the stability and economic viability of fishing operations;
  • Canadian owner-operator fish harvesters are increasingly displaced by foreign acquisition of Canada’s commercial fishing licenses and quotas;
  • Canada does not currently have any limitation on foreign ownership of commercial fishing licenses and quotas in the Pacific Region;
  • Canada does not record or track citizenship within transactions of fishing licenses and quotas;
  • The absence of restrictions on foreign ownership of commercial fishing licenses and quotas damages the economic viability of Canadian-owned fishing operations, harvesters and their families, and coastal communities;
  • Foreign investment in Canadian commercial fisheries is in direct competition with DFO and First Nations’ pursuit of acquisition of fishing licenses and quotas thereby compounding challenges related to meeting reconciliation objectives;
  • Foreign ownership of commercial fishing access compromises domestic food security and is directly linked to economic losses of domestic fish processing and processing jobs in Canada; and
  • The House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans’ 2019 Report on Sharing Risks and Benefits recommends “That based on the principle that fish in Canadian waters are a resource for Canadians (i.e. common property), no future sales of fishing quota and/or licenses be to non-Canadian beneficial owners based on the consideration of issues of legal authority, and international agreement/trade impacts.”.
We, the undersigned, citizens of Canada, call upon the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard to immediately ban any further transfer of Canadian commercial fishing licenses and quotas to foreign ownership or foreign beneficial interest.
Open for signature
February 20, 2023, at 12:08 p.m. (EDT)
Closed for signature
March 22, 2023, at 12:08 p.m. (EDT)
Presented to the House of Commons
Ken Hardie (Fleetwood—Port Kells)
March 22, 2024 (Petition No. 441-02269)
Photo - Ken Hardie
Fleetwood—Port Kells
Liberal Caucus
British Columbia