Fisherman's Road

I gave the following speech on Thursday, Feb. 27th, in the House of Commons on Bill C-638, an act to amend the Canada Shipping to give the Canadian Coast Guard the regulatory power to take action before a derelict vessel becomes a problem.  Mr. Speaker, I begin my speech on the topic of ship wrecks/and derelict vessels with cannibal rats. More specifically, Canadian cannibal rats, that should get everyone’s attention, Mr. Speaker. Not every day Canadian cannibal rats make it to a speech in this honourable House.  How’s this for a headline, Mr. Speaker, "Ghost ship crewed only by cannibal rats feared to be heading for Scottish coast", that’s from the Scottish Daily Record . Or this headline, Mr. Speaker, from the Plymouth Herald , "Ghost ship full of cannibal rats could be about to crash into Devon coast." Finally, hedging its bets, Thisiscornwall.com declared, “Ghost ship full of diseased cannibal rats could crash into coast of Devon or Cornwall.” ...

I posed the follow question today (Feb. 25th) during Question Period in the House of Commons. The main estimates also show Marine Atlantic has taken a $97-million hit in its operating budget ... an 85 per cent cut to the critical transportation link for Newfoundland and Labrador. Ferry services that the people and economy cannot do without. And that this government has an obligation to protect under our Terms of Union. People are worried, Mr. Speaker. I spoke to Marine Atlantic today about funding cuts, Mr. Speaker, and they said wait for the budget. So what's the deal? Will Marine Atlantic be cut, yes or no?

I posed a series of questions today (Feb. 24) at the House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, which is studying recreational fisheries across Canada. The witness responding to my question (I had 3 minutes for questions and answers) is Kevin Stringer, assistant deputy minister. Newfoundland and Labrador's recreational cod fishery is opened for 32 days, much less than the Maritimes. Mr. Ryan Cleary: Thanks, Robert. Thank you, Mr. Chair and thank you to the witnesses for appearing before the committee. I remember back in the early 1990's when John Crosbie shut down the Northern Cod Fishery. He was asked a question at the time whether or not there would be any restriction of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians being able to fish for their table. His answer was if the stocks ever got that low that you couldn't fish for your supper, she'd be gone. We're at the point now where there have been restrictions on recreational fisheries for a number of y...

I posed a series of questions today (Feb. 24) at the House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, which is studying recreational fisheries across Canada. The witness responding to my question (I had 3 minutes for questions and answers) is Kevin Stringer, assistant deputy minister. Newfoundland and Labrador's recreational cod fishery is opened for 32 days, much less than the Maritimes. Mr. Ryan Cleary: Thanks, Mr. Chair. In terms of recreational fisheries there are a lot of questions I could ask. I could ask questions about salmon for example, why our salmon are leaving our waters. They are going out to sea, and they are not coming back from the sea. That's one of the questions for example that's been around for a dog's age. It just hasn't been answered. And trout jurisdiction. It goes on and on. But I'm going to go back to recreational cod fisheries. One of the questions I asked you, Mr. Stringer, was how do the 32 days in Newfoundland and ...

I gave the following one-minute statement in the House of Commons today (Feb. 24th). Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate and join with the NunatuKavut Community Council in the 250thAnniversary of the British-Inuit Treaty of 1765. Our party’s commitment to the NunatuKavut Inuit and the justness of their Aboriginal rights and title claims is steadfast. The New Democrats have always stood up for Aboriginal rights. Just last year, our Party passed an extraordinary resolution recognizing the NunatuKavut Inuit, and set down our solemn commitment to enter into honorable negotiations with them for a modern land claim agreement. We ask the Conservative government to follow the lead of the NDP to work sincerely and expeditiously to heal the relationship with all aboriginal people including the Inuit of South/Central Labrador and start those negotiations. We ask all colleagues in this house to join us in commemorating the 250th anniversary of the first and only British-Inuit Tr...

I gave the following 10-minute speech today (Feb. 17th) in the House of Commons during 3rd reading of Bill C-555, An Act Respecting the Marine Mammal Regulations (seal fishery observation license). Mr. Speaker, I begin this speech on one of the most controversial of Canadian topics – the seal hunt – with one of the country’s most controversial commentators, Don Cherry. Don Cherry, who has made his career on and around the ice, recently took a shot at Newfoundland and Labrador’s ice industry – our seal hunt. It was a Saturday night earlier this month, Mr. Speaker, Hockey Night in Canada, and Don Cherry was doing his usual Coach’s Corner with his CBC sidekick, Ron MacLean. MacLean was actually in St. John’s, Newfoundland for Roger’s Hometown Hockey, and mentioned during the segment how he had eaten a seal burger for lunch earlier that day. The seal burger was prepared by Chef Todd Perrin of Mallard Cottage in Quidi Vide Village, east end St. John’s - one of our finest resta...

I gave the following 10-minute speech today (Feb. 17th) in the House of Commons during 3rd reading of Bill C-555, An Act Respecting the Marine Mammal Regulations (seal fishery observation license). Mr. Speaker, I begin this speech on one of the most controversial of Canadian topics – the seal hunt – with one of the country’s most controversial commentators, Don Cherry. Don Cherry, who has made his career on and around the ice, recently took a shot at Newfoundland and Labrador’s ice industry – our seal hunt. It was a Saturday night earlier this month, Mr. Speaker, Hockey Night in Canada, and Don Cherry was doing his usual Coach’s Corner with his CBC sidekick, Ron MacLean. MacLean was actually in St. John’s, Newfoundland for Roger’s Hometown Hockey, and mentioned during the segment how he had eaten a seal burger for lunch earlier that day. The seal burger was prepared by Chef Todd Perrin of Mallard Cottage in Quidi Vide Village, east end St. John’s - one of our finest re...

I gave the following 20-minute speech today (Feb. 2) in the House of Commons on my Opposition Day Motion calling on the Conservative government to honour its promise to Newfoundland and Labrador regarding the EU trade dealand the Fisheries Investment Fund. Mr. Speaker, It’s no small feat for Newfoundland and Labrador to grab – to seize — the country’s attention, the national spotlight. It’s no small feat to turn the eyes of all of Canada to the eastern most province, even though we’re the youngest province, the coolest province, the most beautiful province, Mr. Speaker. It’s no small feat for our issues — for our agenda — to capture the national or international stage. It’s no small feat because we’re a small province with just over half a million people (about the size of Hamilton, Ont. or Quebec City) and we only have 7 Members of Parliament. Seven members of Parliament out of what will soon be 338 MPs across the country. So how do we do it, Mr. Speaker? We do it with ...

I posed the above question today (Feb. 2), in the House of Commons during Question Period.