Fisheries and Oceans

The committee began its first meeting of the 45th Parliament by electing Patrick Weiler as chair, Mel Arnold as first vice-chair, and Alexis Deschênes as second vice-chair. After the elections, the committee moved to committee business to consider several motions.

Mel Arnold moved to revive the committee’s completed study on the sustainability of Yukon salmon stocks, requesting that the report from the previous Parliament be adopted and that the government table a comprehensive response. The committee agreed to this motion. Robert Morrissey then moved to revive the committee’s study on abandoned and derelict vessels, asking that the draft report begun in the previous Parliament be completed and that the government respond. The committee also agreed to this motion.

Arnold moved to invite the Minister of Fisheries to testify for two hours, with department officials for one hour, no later than September 26, 2025. After debate and the withdrawal of proposed amendments, the committee adopted the motion as originally moved. Morrissey moved to resume the committee’s study of the Fisheries Act, with the understanding that the witness list could be amended later; the committee agreed to this motion. Serge Cormier moved to undertake a five-meeting study on training and financial support for the next generation of fishers, with a report and a government response; the committee agreed to this motion as well.

Alexis Deschênes gave notice of a motion to resume a study on redfish fishing quotas and to undertake a study on the allocation of fishing rights, including redfish quotas and exploratory lobster fishing licences. After Deschênes moved the motion, Mel Arnold proposed an amendment to remove the requirement for four specific meetings, and Cormier proposed an amendment to add a request for a government response. Deschênes accepted both amendments, and the committee adopted the motion as amended. The committee did not set an order for debating the motions or a schedule for future meetings.