44th Parliament223Government response tabledJanuary 29, 2024441-01963441-01963 (Fisheries)RachelBlaneyNorth Island—Powell RiverNDPBCNovember 28, 2023January 29, 2024October 30, 2023Petition to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast GuardWhereas:
  • Migrating juvenile wild salmon stocks are under threat from pathogens, pollutants, and sea lice originating from open net-cage fish farms;
  • Wild salmon support First Nations' cultural traditions and complex ecosystems, including contributing to coastal forests, which produce the oxygen we breathe; and
  • Pacific salmon runs on the British Columbia coast are in a state of emergency.
We, the undersigned citizens of Canada, call upon the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard to:
  • Acknowledge the expression of support for the closure of the Discovery Island fish farms, and urge the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, to continue saving Pacific Wild Salmon by not issuing any more licenses to open-pen fish farms.
Response by the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast GuardSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Diane LebouthillierThe Government of Canada is committed to working closely with First Nations, industry, and other partners to protect and restore oceans and waterways, and to ensure the long-term sustainability of wild Pacific salmon for their significance to the environment, economy, and culture of Indigenous communities and British Columbians. The Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative (PSSI), launched in 2021, is the Government’s long-term strategy to stem serious declines in Pacific salmon populations through a series of science-based approaches and represents a historic $686M investment over five years into Pacific salmon programming and activities. The PSSI is now in full implementation, and there are several significant projects underway. These include: international high seas science and monitoring to better understand the ocean phase of the salmon life cycle; deployment of Canada’s first high seas fisheries enforcement mission to protect against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing; enhanced salmon ecosystem monitoring and targeted harvest enforcement efforts; and initiation of new collaborative integrated planning and salmon rebuilding processes for salmon in both British Columbia and the Yukon.Our Government is committed to work with the Province of British Columbia and Indigenous communities on a responsible plan to transition from open-net pen salmon farming in coastal British Columbia waters. The transition plan will rely on input received from First Nations, industry, local governments, stakeholders, and British Columbians. As such, the consultation period has been extended to allow sufficient time for all interested parties to be meaningfully engaged. Fisheries and Oceans Canada is the regulatory lead in British Columbia and remains committed to ensuring that aquaculture is conducted in a sustainable and responsible manner, with the highest standards of environmental protection and animal health. A rigorous regulatory framework is in place that requires fish farmers to comply with strict rules and conditions, such as monitoring and reporting of fish health, sea lice levels, and environmental impacts.The proposed vision of the open-net pen transition plan is to advance innovation and growth of sustainable aquaculture in British Columbia while also taking into account social, cultural and economic objectives. Once a transition plan is finalized, we will further engage with First Nations and stakeholders on the next phases of plan implementation. Together, we can work towards a shared vision of a sustainable and prosperous future for the wild Pacific salmon and the aquaculture sector in British Columbia.
AquacultureBritish ColumbiaFisheries licencesWild salmon
44th Parliament223Government response tabledDecember 5, 2022e-3862e-3862 (Fisheries)RonaldClearyCliffordSmallCoast of Bays—Central—Notre DameConservativeNLMarch 2, 2022, at 12:31 p.m. (EDT)June 30, 2022, at 12:31 p.m. (EDT)October 20, 2022December 5, 2022July 6, 2022Petition to the <Addressee type="2" affiliationId="" mp-riding-display="1">House of Commons in Parliament assembled</Addressee>Whereas:Non-core commercial groundfish licences represent a lifetime investment by the holders of those licenses who are electors in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador (N.L.);Non-core groundfish licence holders cannot divest, transfer or integrate their non-core lifetime investment into a family succession plan;Non-core licence holders are deemed to have a fundamental retirement entitlement based on their occupational lifetime investment;Non-core licences become null and void at the expiration of its holders in the province of N.L.;On Dec. 22, 2021, the Honourable Madam Justice Heneghan of the Federal Court set aside a decision by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada to reject a request by a Nova Scotia fisherman to transfer his Category B lobster licence, and the matter be returned to the Minister for redetermination; andA non-core groundfish license in N.L. is the same as a Category B lobster licence in the Maritimes in that it cannot be sold or transferred.We, the undersigned, citizens of Canada and electors of the province of N.L., call upon the House of Commons in Parliament assembled to change the status of non-core commercial groundfish licences in N.L. so that they can be divested in a manner determined by the enterprise licence holder, similar to those of core commercial fishing licenses.
Response by the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast GuardSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Mike KellowayThe 1996 Commercial Fisheries Licensing Policy for Eastern Canada introduced a number of reforms aimed at reducing capacity, improving viability and the resilience of fishing enterprises. One of the initiatives under these reforms was the introduction of Core enterprises, including an evaluation and differentiation between Core and Non-core enterprises. This was intended to be a key strategic element in the renewal and growth of the Atlantic fishery.The Core policy identified those licence holders who were deemed to be the head of a fishing enterprise, had a strong dependence and attachment to the harvesting sector in this capacity. Those key licence holders who did not meet this specific criteria were classed as Non-core. As announced at the time, future benefits in the fishery would be provided to members of the Core group. The Core policy is considered to be a significant policy in the harvesting sector. It has added value and viability to those who are enterprise heads. The reduction of harvesting capacity continues to be an objective, through this policy and others (i.e. enterprise combining).License holders who were deemed Non-core, were permitted to maintain their licenses but were not eligible to reissue (transfer) their enterprise, including their groundfish licenses to new entrants.  However, there are some individual licenses associated with Non-core enterprises that may be eligible for reissuance, such as Lobster. Plus, all Non-core enterprises could continue to participate in the commercial fisheries where they held licences. No species licences were taken from the Non-core group. All licence holders denied Core status were offered the opportunity to have their case reviewed through an appeal process.The estate policy for Non-Core who are deemed to be Professional Level 1 or Level 2 permits a substitute operator to fish eligible licences up to a period of 5 years. The estate may also reissue any licenses that are eligible under the departments reissuance policy. However, non-core groundfish licenses are not eligible for reissuance and are cancelled upon the passing of a the licence holder.Non-core fishers can continue to fish the licences they hold and will be granted the same fish allocations as Core enterprises. However, Non-core groundfish licences will be cancelled upon the passing of licence holders. This practice has not changed and has been consistently applied to non-core licence holders in Newfoundland and Labrador Region and across the Atlantic regions since the introduction of this policy.  There are no plans to re-visit this policy.
Fisheries licencesGroundfishNewfoundland and Labrador