Lawrence MacAulay, MP

Presenting Petitions – June 5, 2013

Hon. Lawrence MacAulay (Cardigan, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition from a number of constituents from Prince Edward Island. They wish to indicate to the House that the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, as a national public broadcaster, plays an important role in reflecting Canada and its regions to national and regional audiences, while serving the special needs of those regions.

They call upon the Government of Canada to maintain stable, predictable, long-term core funding to the public broadcaster, including CBC Radio and Radio-Canada, in support of their unique and critical role.

Lobster Price Crisis Requires Federal Leadership

Lobster prices are at rock bottom and we are facing a real crisis on Prince Edward Island.

The lobster industry provides the Island with thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars every year.

Fishermen put their lives on the line every time they go out on the water in order to put a delicacy on tables around the world. Lobster is one of the most important staples of our Island economy, and if prices are unacceptable and our lobster fishers are suffering, then our entire Island suffers.

We have to do everything we can to get this price raised. The federal government should play a clear role in this crisis situation.

Of course the government isn’t going to step in and buy the lobster from the fishermen. But they do have to show leadership on such a divisive and important issue. They have the ability to bring all sides to the table, lead discussions, and actually look into what’s going on.

But as we have seen with the Conservatives’ attitude toward the provinces on any number of issues, and toward our fishers with their 2012 discussion on modernizing Canadian fisheries, which led to the fleet separation battle; this government wants nothing to do with consultations, getting to the bottom of important issues, or lifting a finger if it would do anything to help our fishers.

Last week I introduced a motion to the House of Commons Fisheries Committee. My motion asked for witnesses from all sides to appear before the committee to give their views on the situation and possible solutions. We would have heard from fishermen, processors, federal and provincial officials, and the Lobster Council of Canada, and we would have then made recommendations to the government on any possible steps it could take to help rectify this very serious situation.

My motion was debated at a secretive ‘in-camera’ meeting, and the motion eventually adopted by the committee was substantially different that the one I put forward. A Conservative gag order prevents me from discussing what went on at the meeting.

While I am pleased the committee will hear from the Lobster Council of Canada, I am quite concerned that we may not hear from anyone else, or make any recommendations to the Conservative government.

However, I will continue to push to have everyone involved in the industry heard, to get some leadership from the Conservative government, and to work together to come up with possible solutions to this very critical situation.

Lawrence MacAulay is Member of Parliament for Cardigan

MacAulay Disappointed with Amended Motion

OTTAWA – Cardigan MP Lawrence MacAulay issued this statement following the completion of Thursday’s House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans:

“The motion agreed to by the Fisheries Committee is substantially different than the one I introduced. I am very disappointed but it is a start.”

“It is so important that everyone involved in the fishery come together to come up with the best possible solutions going forward. Of course it’s not easy but it has to be done. We need the lobster fishers, the people that process it, the people that market it, and all levels of government before this Committee in order to do a proper study. The stakes are too high and this industry too important for not only our province but all of Atlantic Canada.”

“Although I am disappointed with the amended motion, I am pleased that the House of Commons Fisheries Committee will hear from the Lobster Council of Canada, but it is only a start. I would have liked to have seen my original motion adopted but this is where we are now.  I will continue to push to have everyone involved in the industry heard, to get some leadership from the federal Conservative government, and to work together to come up with solutions to this critical situation.”

Background:

The motion introduced by MacAulay read:

That, due to the significantly low prices being paid to Canadian lobster fishers and the critical importance of the lobster fishery in economic, social, and cultural terms, the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans immediately call witnesses involved in the industry to discuss potential solutions, that the Committee make recommendations to the government of Canada on steps it can take to address the problems faced by the industry, and that the witness list include representatives of fish harvesting organizations, the Lobster Council of Canada, lobster processing companies, and provincial and federal fisheries officials.

The motion adopted by the Committee is as follows:

That, due to the significantly low prices being paid to Canadian lobster fishers and the critical importance of the lobster fishery in economic, social, and cultural terms, the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans invite Mr. Geoff Irvine Executive Director of the Lobster Council of Canada to appear before it as soon as possible.

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