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Fisheries and Oceans

During question period on fisheries, Conservative members raised concerns about snow crab quota, saying France had been given a 1,500-tonne quota to catch crab in waters controlled by Canada, which they said was worth about $60 million and would harm Newfoundland and Labrador fishers and plant workers. They asked the Prime Minister to cancel the arrangement and defend the industry. The Minister of Fisheries replied that French officials had confirmed no new snow crab licence was issued, that next year’s quotas would be set next year, and that she has strong working relationships with the fishery sector in Newfoundland and Labrador. Parts of the exchange went to personal jabs between members, including remarks about the school nutrition program and how long a member had been absent from the House.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

6 statements

Jonathan Rowe

Conservative
“France is taking our crab quota, and it will cost us 60 million dollars. The minister said she was disappointed, but that is not enough. I want the Prime Minister to protect Canadian sovereignty and tell France no.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, two weeks ago, I got up here and sounded the alarm on the France crab grab, and the Liberals tried to dismiss it as fearmongering. Once they started to realize that this was a $60-million issue, all the minister did was say that she was disappointed in France’s intent. Newfoundlanders and Labradorians do not want a government that is simply disappointed. Will the Prime Minister stand up for Canadians, stand up for Canadian sovereignty and say no to the France crab grab?

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Joanne Thompson

Liberal
“French officials confirmed that no new snow crab licence was issued. People in the member's riding reach out to me about real issues like harbours, energy agreements, and job training. We need to stop the nonsense and work together.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I will not play politics with issues as important as this. What I will say is that French officials confirmed that no new snow crab licence was issued. What I will say to the member is that the residents and constituents in his riding reach out to me regularly to talk about the things that matter: small craft harbours, the Churchill Falls agreement, the work on training our young people for Red Seal certifications, and on and on it goes. It is enough of the nonsense. We have work to do. Canadians know we need to work together. The member needs to— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

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Clifford Small

Conservative

Linked statement

“The Prime Minister gave France permission to catch 1,500 tonnes of crab in Canadian waters. This hurts our fishing industry. I want the Prime Minister to stop this deal.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, selling out our fishing industry to foreign interests is not nonsense. I would have the member for St. John’s East understand that. The Prime Minister and the President of France two weeks ago announced a 1,500-tonne quota of crab to be caught in waters that are controlled by Canada. The Minister of Fisheries expressed her disappointment. The Canadian fishing industry deserves better. Will the Prime Minister stand today with our fishing industry and stop this giveaway, or has he already sold it out to foreign interests?

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Joanne Thompson

Liberal
“The member has not spoken in the House for a long time. I want to know if he still thinks our school food program is garbage. Canadians and the people in his riding need to work together right now. It is wrong that he is playing cheap politics.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 34 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 20 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it is nice to hear the member stand in the House again. It has been a long time since we have heard from him. I want to take this opportunity to see if he still believes that our school nutrition program is garbage. Let me remind him that we are facing a time in our country when we need to come together. Newfoundlanders and Labradorians understand this. The constituents in his riding understand this. It is a shame that he still has to play cheap politics.

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Clifford Small

Conservative
“The fisheries minister was wrong about crab quotas. I want to know if the Prime Minister will support our fishing workers or sell them out.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, crab fishermen and plant workers back home were not amused with that response from the member for St. John’s East. The Minister of Fisheries should at least know that next year’s crab quotas will be set next year, which is in opposition to what she said, that the quotas have not been announced. Maybe she is catering her response to the French fishermen she met last summer. Will the Liberal Prime Minister stand with our fishing industry, or has he already sold it out like he did with our steel producers?

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Joanne Thompson

Liberal
“I already have strong relationships with the fishery sector in Newfoundland and Labrador, and I talk with them often. We are doing the work Canadians asked for by making programs that work with the people who need them. The member's attacks do not help anyone.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 13 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 26 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind my colleague across the aisle that I work in dialogue and actually have very strong relationships with the fishery sector in Newfoundland and Labrador. I certainly do not need lessons on how to speak with people from the member, but I will remind him that we are doing the work that Canadians have asked us to do. We are meeting this moment with strong strategies and programs that work, and we are meeting it in relationship and in dialogue with the people who need us to work alongside them. This rhetoric is not doing anyone any benefit.

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