Fisheries minister responds to NDP fisheries critic

"Recent comments by NDP Member of Parliament Peter Stoffer were unproductive, incorrect and misleading.

New proposals for 'stacking' and flexible partnering in the Maritimes lobster fishery could be helpful options in addressing economic challenges, in discussion with the fishing industry. Mr. Stoffer's suggestion that licence stacking would lead to increased corporate control of the fisheries is inaccurate. I am committed to the preservation of the independence of the inshore fleet in Atlantic Canada's fisheries and I see great potential in the Ocean to Plate agenda that DFO is working on with provinces and the fishing industry.

Mr. Stoffer has also commented on the organizational structure of DFO. He knows full well that the department already has strong regional operations in place across the country, with approximately 80 per cent of staff located in the regions, and that completely eliminating a central function would be neither helpful nor responsible.

As the new Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, I'm willing to work with members of the opposition in an open and collaborative way. Hopefully they'll do the same."