MAPLE RIDGE, B.C. – Yesterday British Columbians saw a sad example of the
worst kind of political showmanship. Despite having been provided concrete information
to the contrary, NDP MP Peter Stoffer stood up at a press conference and made statements
about Bill C-45 that can only be called creative, at best.
Folks on the west coast deserve to know the facts about what is – and isn’t –
in this Bill.
The modernized Fisheries Act does not change the public character of the
fishery in Canada, despite Mr. Stoffer’s claims to the contrary. The previous Act
did not mention the public nature of the fishery at all, while Bill C-45 explicitly
affirms this fact. How can that be seen as eliminating the public nature of the
fishery?
Minister Hearn has repeatedly told Mr. Stoffer that if he has a serious concern
about this issue, or any other, he is welcome to suggest alternate wording to strengthen
the Bill. To date, no constructive suggestions have been offered. I believe this
explains in large part why Mr. Stoffer and the NDP do not want this Bill to reach
committee stage; they do not want to expose the fact they have no plan or counterproposals.
They can only complain.
Another red herring put forward by this critic is an allegation that consultation
did not take place prior to this new Act being drafted. This Act is the product
of extensive consultation with stakeholders from numerous fishing sectors, as well
as environmental groups and provincial and territorial governments.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) consulted with these groups on a
number of initiatives. The focus of these consultation sessions was to pose the
questions: "How can we better serve you? What can the federal government do differently
to help ensure the fishery operates smoothly, while protecting fish and fish habitat?
How can we better protect fish habitat and foster the development necessary to sustain
our towns and cities?"
During these consultations, observations were often heard about how certain outdated
sections of the 139-year-old Fisheries Act no longer reflected the modern
world, and were not serving the public or our environment well.
The NDP would throw out all these years of collected information, and start consulting
all over again. Why? Not only is it unnecessary, it would actually be disrespectful
to so many who gave their views.
Now that the Bill has actually been tabled in Parliament, officials within DFO
have begun extensive briefings to get specific feedback from stakeholders. No one
at these briefing sessions has been surprised by what they have seen; they recognize
in C-45 the ideas and concepts that have been part of previous discussions with
them.
While these officials are moving as quickly as possible, and will reach out to
as many people as possible, if you represent a group that would like to be briefed
on the content of the new Act, then I would encourage you to visit the DFO website
at: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca or contact your local DFO office.
By calling for the Bill to be scrapped, without even bothering to put forward
suggestions on how to make it better, the NDP are in effect fighting to maintain
the status quo. Despite their claims to the contrary, they are telling people involved
in the industry that the answer to their problems is another round of endless consultation,
and using misinformation to spread fear about the Act.
Canada’s New Government believes that it is important to get things done for
the fishing industry and for the environment. Bill C-45 accomplishes both. Minister
Hearn is truly open to hearing from anyone who has constructive ideas that could
improve the Act. I hope that eventually Mr. Stoffer and the NDP will choose to work
in a constructive manner, and help us make the Act as strong as possible.
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