Atlantic Council of Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting

St. John's, NFLD, April 27, 2000

CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY

Good morning and welcome to this Atlantic Council of Fisheries Ministers' meeting, here in beautiful St. John's.

I would like to thank my co-chair Minister Efford for hosting this important meeting.

Since I became minister 8 months ago, I have had the opportunity to work with you on many important issues and have enjoyed that relationship very much.

Let me briefly outline the vision I bring with me to this day's meeting.

I am excited about the future of Canada's fisheries. I believe that we live in an era of opportunities - opportunities to derive great economic and social benefits from our fisheries and oceans resources.

But to take full advantage of these opportunities, we have to continue working in coordination and cooperation with one another and with industry to conserve these resources and use them responsibly. Based on our positive meetings and discussions in the past, I am confident that this successful relationship will continue.

This is our first meeting since last September, when we agreed on terms of reference to increase the Council's effectiveness in dealing with Atlantic fisheries and aquaculture issues, and in developing these industries in coastal communities.

And it is our first meeting since we and our other provincial colleagues signed the Agreement on Interjurisdictional Cooperation with respect to Fisheries and Aquaculture.

Since that time we have made great strides in reenforcing joint cooperation amongst ourselves and with industry stakeholders. Let me run through just a few examples:

   
• In keeping with our joint resolution to advance Canada as a world leader in sustainable aquaculture, we have initiated extensive consultations to ensure that the Canadian industry is guided by common objectives and grows in an manner that is sensitive to keeping a healthy environment.    

   

     
   
• Two days ago, I announced with Yves Bastien, Commissioner for Aquaculture Development, the first projects worth over $400,000 to receive funding through the Aquaculture Partnership Program. This program is an important initiative and will help the aquaculture industry across Canada to develop partnerships and work together on projects of national and regional significance.    

   

     
   
• My department recently announced the Chair of an eminent panel whose work will complement our many collaborative initiatives to assess and manage the Canadian seal population.    

   

     
   
• I will be announcing the three members of this panel in the near future.    

   

     
   
• Also, recently, we collaborated closely with industry and the Newfoundland government in taking necessary steps to protect the future viability of the lucrative Newfoundland Snow Crab fishery. It was heartening to hear Minister Efford's immediate support of DFO's action in this area in the media, following the public announcement.

In September, we were in the very early stages of clarifying the implications of the Supreme Court of Canada's Marshall decision.

Since then, the federal government has provided substantial resources to enable Aboriginal participation in the fishery. I reviewed our plans for implementing Marshall at a meeting in March with Ministers Fage and Robichaud, and officials from Newfoundland and PEI.

My goal has always been to show leadership in promoting a cooperative, non-confrontational atmosphere. Through formal negotiations and in the spirit of compromise, we have been working with all interested parties. I believe this is bringing results today, and will produce even more success in the near future - for both Aboriginal and traditional fisheries. I have appreciated your support through this process.

I am a firm believer in consultation and cooperation, not just on the Marshall file - but in other matters too.

I have sought to improve collaboration with provinces to maintain Canada's reputation as a supplier of consistently high quality fish and seafood products. We will hear more about this from Minister Efford later.

And I have also approached key federal colleagues about the need to improve Canada's competitive edge in marketing fisheries and oceans products and services internationally.

Our presence on the international stage is equally important when it comes to conservation.

To that end, I would like to speak to you later today about the process to ratify the United Nations Fish Agreement (UNFA), a process in which I have taken an active role. This is a vital tool for ensuring the sustainable use of straddling and highly migratory fish stocks which we depend upon along with other countries.

When I think of the future, I imagine us having acted wisely today so that we will be able to look back and say "We acted well in our efforts to secure the future of our rich oceans heritage for our children and grandchildren."

Our common goal is to balance the creation of wealth with the need to protect and sustain the long-term health of our oceans, waterways and marine resources.

At the beginning of the 21st century, this is one of our most important challenges.

I appreciate that all of us bring priorities to the table, and I believe that today's agenda will provide us with the opportunity for productive discussions that result in new insights into how we can work together even better at resolving key issues.

Working together, we create the conditions of success.

Thank you.