Press
Release/Communiqué
Date: November 5th, 1998
For release: Immediate
STECKLE
TABLES THE STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT
ON
THE CANADIAN FRESHWATER FISHERIES
OTTAWA – Paul Steckle, the
Member of Parliament for Huron-Bruce, today formally tabled the unanimous, all
party report of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, dealing with
the status of the Central Canadian Freshwater Fisheries.
The report, which is a product of an extensive public consultation
process, conducted by the Committee in the Central and Arctic Region of Canada
(Manitoba and Ontario), calls upon the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to
undertake a variety of measures specifically designed to improve the long-term
sustainability of the freshwater commercial and sport fisheries. After he tabled the document in the House of
Commons Steckle stated, “This report represents one of the most
comprehensive and substantial studies of the region, by a Standing Committee on
Fisheries and Oceans, to date. I am
very proud to have been a part of this effort and I eagerly, and
optimistically, anticipate the Minister’s reaction.”
Among other things, the report calls upon the Minister to commit to a
long-term, adequate and stable funding arrangement with respect to the Sea
Lamprey Control Program. It also
addresses the complex and contentious issue of Ontario’s recent proposal to
permit certain corporations to export water from the Great Lakes for
profit. In addition the aforementioned
also comments, and makes recommendation on, issues such as DFO’s regional
spending priorities, research and development availability and ballast water
exchange proposals. “The
Committee, during its travel into Ontario and Manitoba, finally began to
address the impending crisis in Central Canada’s sport and recreational
fisheries by suggesting real alternatives.
The support that we received from the local residents and from industry
stakeholders was remarkable. If this
trend continues, I am confident that we will be able to prevent future
problems, before they have had a chance to surface,” Steckle concluded.
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______________________________________________________________________
For additional information
or for a copy of the report please contact:
Greg McClinchey, Legislative
Assistant to Paul Steckle
(613) 992-8234 or
steckp0@parl.gc.ca