The new Fisheries Act, known as Bill C45 must not go to second reading for the simple reason that no one knows what it means yet.

No one besides lawyers and politicians.

Even Gerald Keddy, MP for South Shore-St. Margarets and chair of the Standing Committee on Fisheries says he wishes it were in plainer English.

Even he has asked lawyers to help him understand it.

This bill will not affect the lives and livelihoods of lawyers or politicians. It will affect the lives and livelihoods of fishermen and the communities they support.

Before the bill goes any farther, the government must make it clear to fishermen just how they will be affected.

Of course the minister and DFO say they consulted with fishermen. When? Before.

The truth is you’d have an easier job finding a cod in the Bay of Fundy than finding a fisherman who remembers being consulted.

“We consulted you, remember? Oh, you don’t? Well trust us this bill is in your best interest.”

Randy Kamp, parliamentary secretary to the minister of Fisheries and Oceans says consultation is essential for “a bill like this.” Like what?

“This bill will have a significant effect on the fishing industry across this country,” says the B.C. MP.

That’s exactly why it should be clear to fishermen what this bill would mean for them. Now.

Before it goes to second reading.

The House of Commons Procedure and Practice is clear beyond all question on the subject.

At second reading, the members are asked to give approval to the principle of the bill.

Debate and amendments after second reading cannot alter the principle of the bill.

However the minister can refer the bill to committee before second reading - a method which allows debate on the intent of the bill.

This is nothing new - Stephen Harper’s government agreed under pressure from the NDP to do this with their Clean Air Act just last November.

A new Fisheries Act is needed and this one may be the very best, but who knows?

Just what is the hurry here?

The old Fisheries Act has chugged along for almost 140 years and will probably hold up for another few months.

The government must give fishermen time to get their heads around this legislation.

Government members and even provincial Tories are inventing all sorts of reasons why the minister cannot consult now, but the fact of the matter is, if the minister wanted to hear what fishermen thought of this bill, he could make it happen today.

This would not be, as Keddy calls it, a “nation-wide side show” but a chance to explain to fishermen in English (and French too for that matter) just what the bill means and hear in return just how the fishermen feel about it.

Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn and the rest of the Harper government are already in trouble Down East for breaking promises on the offshore accords.

If our votes count at all, this might be a good time to start and do the right thing.