Atlantic Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers’ Meeting
Opening Remarks
Opening Remarks
for
The Honourable Herb Dhaliwal, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
At Meeting of
Atlantic Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers (ACFAM)
St. Andrew’s, NB
March 30, 2001
CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY
Thank you, Paul.
On behalf of the other ministers here today, I’d like to thank you and your officials for your hard work in organizing and hosting this meeting of the Atlantic Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers.
I’d also like to welcome the new ministers. You know, it wasn’t so long ago that I was the "new kid on the block," so to speak. I certainly wasn’t shy about putting my views on the table, and I’m sure you won’t be either.
Indeed, it’s important that you make your voices heard. Canadians want their governments to work together. We need to co-operate if we want to meet the challenges and opportunities our Atlantic fishery faces.
But we also have to acknowledge up-front that there are issues we may disagree on. That’s to be expected. We all have a job to do — we have to listen to our constituents, and represent them to the best of our abilities.
In fact, since becoming Minister a year-and-a-half ago, I’ve gained a keen appreciation of the vast range of opinion about Canada’s fisheries. I know each of you brings your own concerns to the table today — whether it’s about specific issues, or about the changing face of our Atlantic fishery, especially as we move forward on renewing the policies governing it. So it’s only natural that we won’t totally agree on everything — but we need to continue moving forward.
This is the place to discuss these issues, and determine how we can move forward together
. The agenda items and the round-table later today will give us the chance we need to bring these concerns to light.But there are already many things we do agree on.
We agree that our Atlantic fishery is changing. And we agree that change is positive and necessary.
Bringing positive change to the fishery means not simply responding to problems — it means becoming more proactive, innovative, and even visionary in our approach. It means listening carefully to people involved in the fishery.
And it also means continuing to work together, as partners. As I’ve said many times before, the raison d’être of this council is co-operative action through dialogue.
Because through co-operation and partnership, we’ve made things happen. And we’ll continue to do so.
ATLANTIC FISHERIES POLICY REVIEW
Take the Atlantic Fisheries Policy Review — the first such review in two decades. It springs in large part from the desire expressed by your governments to make some positive and fundamental changes in the Atlantic fishery.
Indeed, my goal all along has been for the AFPR to be an example of intergovernmental co-operation in action.
At our September 1999 meeting, we agreed on the importance of ensuring input from a wide range of stakeholders and provincial governments. We’ve since made this a fundamental principle of the AFPR.
You recognize — as I do — that this is an excellent opportunity for a wide range of Canadians to make some positive and lasting changes to the Atlantic fishery. Communities. Aboriginal groups. Fishers. Industry. Different levels of government. These perspectives matter. And so far, the level of participation in our consultations is very encouraging.
And because the AFPR is a mechanism for change, it’s also an opportunity to tackle some long-standing concerns head-on.
Take resource-access — always a difficult issue, and one that you’ve raised at past meetings. We’ve long been told that the decision-making process and criteria surrounding fishery access are unclear, and are perceived to be too political.
We’ve proposed the Independent Panel on Access Criteria — or IPAC — an acceleration of part of the second phase of the AFPR, directly following the concerns you expressed last summer.
The Panel will be an open, impartial and transparent body. It will consult with a wide range of interests — each with a stake in the fishery. And it will review the decision-making criteria for new commercial fisheries where resource abundance or landed values have increased substantially, as well as allocation issues. As part of its mandate, the Panel will need to become familiar with access and allocation policies.
You’ve each had an opportunity to review both the initial terms of reference and membership for the Panel.
I look forward to our discussion on this important initiative today. I believe that the IPAC is exactly the type of innovative mechanism that will create more stability and certainty in the Atlantic fishery.
MARSHALL
Your support of my department’s ongoing activities in relation to the Marshall decision is also greatly valued by my officials — and by me personally, as Minister.
At last April’s meeting, you emphasized the importance of transparency on the part of DFO as it implements the decision. And we’ve delivered — through regional briefings, ministerial discussions and other consultations.
And we’re making progress. As a result of the Supreme Court’s ruling, we’ve initiated significant changes in the Atlantic fishery for First Nations over the past year. Affected bands now have greater access to the commercial fishery than ever before. And we’ve taken steps to ensure that these new participants are successful.
And last month, we took the next step.
I joined my colleague, Minister Nault, to announce the Government of Canada’s three-year strategy to respond to the decision. To deal with the immediate fisheries pressures, I re-appointed Jim MacKenzie as Federal Fisheries Negotiator.
And Gilles Theriault continues to serve as Associate Federal Fisheries Negotiator, ensuring that traditional fishers are kept informed, and that their perspectives continue to be taken into account.
We’re starting in a better position this year. We’ve provided increased access to First Nations, and now we’re working towards one-to-three-year agreements. I’m confident that we’ll be able to build on last year’s successes.
In terms of enforcement, I want to assure you, once again, that where enforcement measures are warranted, we will act. Of course, I would rather focus our resources on other things — like helping First Nations gain access and training. But while I am an optimist, I am also a realist. And I intend to continue doing my job, in order to conserve the resource for all Canadians.
My department will be providing an update on Marshall later this afternoon. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you have at that time.
AQUACULTURE
Of course, your support at past meetings also helped make the new $75-million Program for Sustainable Aquaculture program a reality.
We all know the benefits to be gained from a sustainable aquaculture industry. I’m talking about long-term job creation in Canada’s proud coastal communities. Currently, over 90 per cent of aquaculture jobs in Canada are rural. Knowledge-based jobs. Well-paid jobs. By straddling the new economy and the old, aquaculture is proving that the new economy isn’t for urban Canadians alone.
We’re making much progress towards developing a sustainable aquaculture industry in Canada, and today, we’ll update you on our progress so far — particularly on the issue of aquaculture siting approvals.
OTHER ISSUES
And your ideas and support have also been instrumental in bringing about other positive changes. In particular, the advice you’ve given me over the past two years on the need for additional funding for fishery enforcement, scientific research, and infrastructure has produced some very tangible results. Indeed, I’ve been very fortunate to make several important funding announcements that reflect the priorities that your governments have brought to the table.
$30 million to repair our small craft harbours and wharves.
$54 million to ensure that DFO’s fleet of sea vessels and aircraft is up to par.
$18 million to improve our laboratories, which supply us with the critical scientific information we need to make informed decisions about our fisheries.
$39.3 million to enhance DFO’s capacity to deliver existing science programs.
$41 million over three years to increase fisheries enforcement capacity on both coasts.
$115.5 million for our Search and Rescue services.
It’s my sincere hope that you will continue to make your voices heard, as we work together to strengthen our Atlantic fishery in the years ahead.
CONCLUSION
You know, this has been a successful year for the Canadian fishing industry. I’m proud to say that our fish and seafood exports reached a record high in 2000 — $4.1 billion. This is the third year in a row that we’ve achieved a record high. This success is based on sound management and conservation, and — of course — on our ability to work together.
We’re making things happen
. We can take pride in how much we’ve accomplished so far.Our challenge now is to maintain this momentum, and continue making the innovative and modern changes our Atlantic communities need.
And that’s exactly what we’re doing here today. This council is a valuable instrument to move all of these issues forward.
Once again, thank you all for attending. I look forward to this afternoon’s discussions.
Thank you.
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