Fisheries bill still doesn’t float says NDP fisheries critic

By Tina Comeau

SOU’WESTER

The first time the Conservative government introduced a bill to modernize the existing Fisheries Act, it was a Friday, the 13th.

But come a year later with its legislation sequel, the NDP fisheries critic says the government still hasn’t lucked out when it comes to getting his party’s support.

While there are parts of Bill C-32 – the follow-up to Bill C-45 – that MP Peter Stoffer of the NDP says represents positive changes, he says there is still much within the bill that needs more work.

“What we would like to do is have true consultations with fishermen and their communities from coast to coast to coast, including our inland waters and First Nations representatives, and to have the bill come to committee before second reading,” he says.

Stoffer says if the bill comes to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans after second reading, it would be too late to make certain amendments they’d like to see.

So is he hopeful the committee will get the bill first?

“No,” he says rather matter-of-factly, with a hint of frustration in his voice, since he says his party is willing to work with Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn, the government and interested groups to achieve a ‘better’ bill.

“There are some parts of this bill that are quite good, we don’t have a problem with that,” he says. “But there are some parts that need to be redefined and reclarified.”

The NDP feels the new bill still has too many loopholes contained in its wording. It also has concerns with 15-year allocation periods, changes in how licences are approved and fisheries management agreements that it claims may lead to the privatization of a public resource.

“We simply cannot support the legislation at this time with all of its shortcomings,” says Stoffer, who is quick to add this doesn’t mean he wants to see the bill die. Rather he wants to see it improved.

“The biggest problem I have with the bill is the protection of fish and fish habitat,” says the Nova Scotia MP. He suggests the bill would continue to allow a situation where mining companies, for instance, could use rivers and lakes as tailings ponds.

“Why would you allow the destruction of a perfectly healthy ecosystem?” he asks.

Another concern of the NDP continues to be the aspect of creeping corporatization of a public resource.

“We personally don’t want to see DFO relinquish its final authority on the protection of fish and fish habitat,” says Stoffer.

But mostly, Stoffer wants to see true public consultation on the proposed legislation before it is too late, something he maintains – to the contrary of DFO – hasn’t occurred yet.

“Let’s get it before the committee so we can have the cross-country consultation with experts, people in the industry,” he says. “Then let’s draw up an act that is actually going to work.”