Joyce Murray

[Fisheries and Oceans, September 28th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, I also want to express my concern for the member's community and the fish harvesters. I have had a chance to hear from and discuss this with provincial premiers, fish harvesters and their representatives, and members of Parliament, and it is a very distressing situation. We are going to work collectively and in partnership with them to do everything we can to support our fish harvesters going forward.

[Fisheries and Oceans, September 27th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate these voices of concern from the members opposite. I can tell the House that the members on this side of the House from Atlantic Canada and eastern Quebec have been on the ground.

I have spoken with my parliamentary secretary. He has not slept for days. I have heard about the devastation that people are experiencing. We are, and I am, in touch with fish harvesters, provincial ministers and caucus members. We will be happy to hear what requests there are for extensions and consider them very seriously.

[Fisheries and Oceans, September 27th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, again, having chatted with MPs and ministers from that area, I am very much seized with how much this challenges the people who may have lost their homes and may have lost their boats or their fishing gear. There may not be adequate food in the grocery stores.

We are there, DFO, our staff, the Canadian Coast Guard and the Canadian Coast Guard College. We are doing everything we can on the ground to support the people of Atlantic Canada and eastern Quebec. We will continue to do just that.

[Fisheries and Oceans, September 27th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, I want to express my shock after seeing the images in Atlantic Canada and eastern Quebec. My thoughts are with the families still struggling in those areas.

I would like to assure the member that DFO has already inspected 80 small craft harbours. We are on the ground, we are there for Canadians and we are there for fish harvesters. We are committed to rebuilding and renewing this infrastructure so they can do their jobs out in the fisheries.

[Fisheries and Oceans, September 26th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, I want to confirm that we are committed to protecting our iconic wild salmon on the Pacific coast. That is why we are investing so much in the Pacific salmon strategy. I am also deeply engaged in the transition away from open-net pen aquaculture.

I would like to confirm that the member is not correct in saying there has been an increase in the Clayoquot Sound area. It has been a shifting from one area to another, but not an increase.

[Fisheries and Oceans, September 26th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, we are very aware of the extensive impact on residents and fish harvesters in Atlantic Canada. We are certainly considering requests to extend seasons as we do the other immediate work to help individuals and communities with the impacts of this incredible disaster.

[Fisheries and Oceans, September 26th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, our officials are doing just that. Our Coast Guard officials are standing ready to help in any way possible. They are helping with cleanup. They are helping with assessing the damage.

We will be there for the residents of Atlantic Canada. We will be there for the fish harvesters and the damage to their interests and equipment.

[Fisheries and Oceans, September 26th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, I just want to add my voice to those thinking of all of the residents of Atlantic Canada who have been shocked and impacted.

We are assessing the impact on wharves and other infrastructure in the fisheries communities. As the Prime Minister has said, we will be there for people. I can only imagine how difficult this is for Atlantic Canadians right now. We will do everything we can to support them. The Coast Guard and DFO—

[Fisheries and Oceans, September 22nd, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for Egmont for his deep commitment to fish harvesters.

Canada has world-class fisheries and that is thanks to our fish harvesters. With measures like dynamic closures, removing ghost gear and whale-safe gear innovations, Canadian harvesters are very committed to protecting right whales, and it is working. It turns out that thanks to their efforts, there has not been a whale mortality in Canadian waters for three years. That is Canada's record and we can all be proud of it.

[Fisheries and Oceans, June 17th, 2022]

Madam Speaker, I appreciate the work of fish harvesters and fish processors from coast to coast in this country. We make all of our decisions on fish allocations based on science and in consultation with harvesters and others. We are preparing decisions on this fishery and they will be released soon.