THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES AND OCEANS
EVIDENCE
OTTAWA, Wednesday, June 25, 2025
The Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans met this day at 3:33 p.m. [ET], pursuant to rule 12-13 of the Rules of the Senate, to organize the activities of the committee.
[English]
Melissa Doyle, Clerk of the Committee: Honourable senators, as clerk of your committee, it is my duty to preside over the election of the chair.
I am ready to receive a motion to that effect.
Senator C. Deacon: So moved.
Senator Ravalia: I would like to nominate Senator Fabian Manning to be chair.
Ms. Doyle: Are there any other nominations?
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Ravalia that the Honourable Senator Manning do take the chair of this committee.
Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Ms. Doyle: I declare the motion carried. I invite the Honourable Senator Manning to take the chair.
Senator Fabian Manning, (Chair), in the chair.
The Chair: Thank you very much. I appreciate your support. I thank my several campaign managers who have been campaigning for the last couple of months on my behalf. I won’t mention any names. Thank you, Senator Deacon and Senator Busson.
Since my appointment to the Senate in 2009, I have been a member of the Fisheries Committee. As of last week, I have been chair for the past 14 years. I pride myself in ensuring that everyone around the table has ample time to do their work. We try our best not to bring partisan politics to the table, even on serious issues from time to time. My record and those who have served with me will vouch for me on that.
If, at any time, I say to any member that there is an issue that you want to talk about that you may be discussing here and you want to talk about privately, feel free to touch base and have your 5 cents or sometimes 25 cents worth, if it needs to be.
I certainly look forward to our work coming up. I come from a small fishing community in Newfoundland and Labrador, St. Bride’s. I never fished in my life. My family had a family business in the community for almost 50 years.
My father told us that the wharf in our community was like Highway 401. It was where our money was made and how important it was that we protect it in each and every way, because what happened on the wharf happened in the community, school, church, employment for everybody, whatever the case may be. So I take it very seriously.
In my humble opinion, regardless of who is in power in Ottawa, it is tough sometimes to get fisheries issues on the table. They are lying outside of the Ottawa bubble, and sometimes it is tough. That’s why it is important that we work together on issues that we all feel need to be brought to the table and addressed in whatever way we can. I hope to be able to continue with that.
I apologize to those up front. Since our last sitting as chair of the committee, I have had a serious medical issue with my left eye. I permanently lost sight in my left eye back in January. If you want to be recognized here, make sure you sit on the right. You will be recognized a lot quicker. I’m only joking, but just bear with me as I adjust to that new way of operating. I have no peripheral vision on this side. I want to let everyone know that up front.
When we have the opportunity to discuss the work that we will be doing, feel free to offer any suggestions, ideas. We have to narrow it down as time goes on. Certainly in my experience here and from our colleagues from the West Coast, the fishery on the West Coast of Canada is very different from the fishery on the East Coast of Canada. It’s like chalk and cheese. There are different rules and regulations. It’s amazing it’s all under the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. If you don’t know that by now, you will know it pretty quick when it comes to discussing issues around the table.
I want to welcome everyone back. We are just organizing here today. We’ll get the ball rolling when we come back in September. I look forward to working with each and every one of you.
My next role is to look for my sidekick, who has been Senator Busson for many years. Senator Ravalia has been campaigning for that position for the last couple of months from what I understand, but he hasn’t got much support around the table, so I want to throw that out before I call for nominations for deputy chair.
Senator C. Deacon: I nominate Senator Busson to make sure that the nomination of chair and deputy chair is balanced between the East and West Coasts.
The Chair: Do we have any other nominations for deputy chair? Seeing none, I close nominations and congratulate Senator Busson on her re-election. Senator Busson has served in that role for some time. We work very well together, and I look forward to the continuation of that.
We have some routine motions to adopt. Certainly, our first motion is basically to put our steering committee in place:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the chair, the deputy chair and two other members of the committee to be designated after the usual consultations; and
That the subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the committee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses and to schedule hearings.
Do I have a mover for motion 3?
Senator Busson: I should have mentioned this before we got started. I was actually watching for you to come in. I would like to propose a very small amendment to motion 3 if I could have a second to explain why I would like to do that.
The Chair: Go ahead.
Senator Busson: It has nothing to do with this committee; if anything, we are the antithesis of what this amendment is aiming at. In consultation with some of my colleagues, some of the committees have a steering committee that, at times, takes it upon itself not to consult with the members of the committee. I was hoping to have a small word change to motion 3 to reflect that we are a committee that works in consultation and works together. If I could, I would like to amend the motion by replacing the words “be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the committee” to “be responsible for considering and consulting with the committee.”
The Chair: Any comments?
Senator Busson: It reflects the fact that steering should embody the wishes of the members of the committee and not dictate to the committee. I understand from some colleagues on some other committees that can be an issue. Some of my colleagues are going to do the same with other committees, as well, to embody that the steering committees feel responsible for consulting before making difficult decisions.
The Chair: Any questions or comments?
Senator C. Deacon: I think that’s a really interesting, subtle and important difference. It is how we operate as the steering committee of this committee; it is how we have operated, I think. It reflects the way the committee has worked so successfully. From my standpoint, it makes a lot of sense. I would agree.
The Chair: Okay.
Senator Busson: It would be my hope we could be used as an example of how committees run.
The Chair: Do members agree with the proposal put forward by Senator Busson?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Senator Busson has moved the motion in amendment. This is the Cole’s Notes version.
Senator Busson: I do apologize for taking the time.
The Chair: I want to assure new members that our history around this table is that steering — yes, I understand where you are coming from with the amendment, because it has happened in other committees, but around this table, the steering committee does not make any final decisions. We make recommendations. If we have 20 items for discussion, we may narrow that down to half a dozen and come back to the committee. But in all my time here — and for members who have been with me for a number of years — we have never come in and dictated what we are going to do on a day. That will not happen around this table, not as long as I’m at this end of it. Still, I understand where you are coming from with the amendment.
Senator Busson: It reflects our practices.
The Chair: So the motion is carried.
The next motion is:
That the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign analysts to the committee;
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to retain the services of experts as may be required by the work of the committee; and
That the chair, on behalf of the committee, direct the research staff in the preparation of studies, analyses, summaries and draft reports.
Is the motion carried?
Senator C. Deacon: So moved.
The Chair: Moved by Senator Deacon.
The Chair: Do I have a mover for motion 4 — to publish the committee’s proceedings?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: — make sure the senator’s names are there somewhere. I’m skipping motion 5 because we already did that.
I didn’t see you, Daniele Lafrance, and you were on my good side. I would like to introduce the committee to Daniele Lafrance. Ms. Lafrance has been here for a long time and has done fabulous work on behalf of the committee. She is well versed on fisheries issues. Certainly, the committee has someone here doing the work with a great history on it. I say to you that if there are any concerns you have, Ms. Lafrance is very approachable so don’t hesitate, as they say in Newfoundland, to have your five cents’ worth.
Motion 6 is:
That, pursuant to subsection 6 (1), chapter 3:05 of the Senate Administrative Rules, authority to commit funds be conferred individually on the chair, the deputy chair and the clerk of the committee;
That, pursuant to subsection 7 (1), chapter 3:05 of the Senate Administrative Rules, authority for certifying accounts payable by the committee be conferred individually on the chair, the deputy chair and the clerk of the committee; and
That, notwithstanding the foregoing, in cases related to consultants and personnel services, the authority to commit funds and certify accounts be conferred jointly on the chair and deputy chair.
Do I have a mover for that motion? All those in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Motion carried.
Motion 7 is:
That the committee empower the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure to designate, as required, one or more members of the committee and/or such staff as may be necessary to travel on assignment on behalf of the committee.
Do I have a mover for that motion?
Senator Cuzner: So moved.
The Chair: All those in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
Motion 8:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to determine whether any member of the committee is on “official business” for the purposes of paragraph 8(3)(a) of the Senators Attendance Policy, published in the Journals of the Senate on Wednesday, June 3, 1998; and
Consider any member of the committee to be on “official business” if that member is: (a) attending an event or meeting related to the work of the committee; or (b) making a presentation related to the work of the committee; and
That the subcommittee report at the earliest opportunity any decisions taken with respect to the designation of members of the committee travelling on committee business.
Do I have a mover?
Hon. Senators: So moved.
The Chair: All those in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Motion 9:
That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witness expenses, the committee may reimburse reasonable expenses related to the appearance of one witness per organization upon application, but that the chair be authorized to approve expenses of a second witness from the same organization should there be exceptional circumstances.
Do I have a mover?
Senator Ravalia: So moved.
The Chair: All those in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Motion 10:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to direct communications officer(s) assigned to the committee in the development of communications plans and products where appropriate and to request the services of the Senate Communications, Broadcasting and Publications Directorate for the purposes of the promotion of their work; and
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to allow coverage by electronic media of the committee’s public proceedings with the least possible disruption of its proceedings, at its discretion.
Do I have a mover?
Senator Gerba: So moved.
The Chair: All those if favour.
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
Colleagues this brings us to the final item before adjournment.
Right now, our time slots for meetings are as follows: Tuesdays from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. I guess the leaders are discussing all that. It may be subject to change but it has been pretty well that since I came here so very unlikely they will change, because it has a domino effect on the other committees, especially when you are serving on three or four different committees. As of now, those will be our time slots.
Usually, when we get close to Christmas or this time of year the Tuesday evenings are very difficult to arrange meetings because we are dealing with legislation that has to be passed in the Senate by the end of the calendar year or in June. We will cross that bridge when we come to it. We plan around that but make a decision as a committee in the last two or three weeks. In order for us to sit when the Senate is sitting, we have to have permission from the chamber and that doesn’t happen very easily when we are doing that.
I don’t know if anybody has any other questions or motions or concerns that they want to bring forward?
Senator C. Deacon: I wonder if we have a chance to chat briefly to see where things are at with the study we were getting close on and the activities we were getting close on. I think a short summary video from marketing and communications. In an organization meeting, that wouldn’t normally happen so I wonder if there is any chance.
The Chair: What do you think?
Senator C. Deacon: Is this allowed in an organizational meeting?
Ms. Doyle: We have nine minutes.
The Chair: We can chat on that.
Ms. Doyle: It can be in camera.
The Chair: We can go in camera and have a discussion. Some of us have another meeting pretty soon. We can have a quick chat on that.
That takes care of this part of our meeting. Once again, I want to thank you for the privilege to serve as your chair once again. I keep saying “to the new members” but sometimes — how do I put it? — I use words that are only Newfoundland and Labrador words every now and again. I’m still working on the English language so I will not go in on the French side of things. If, at any time, I talk too fast or say something you don’t fully understand, please don’t hesitate to ask me what I just said. Sometimes I might have to go to Ms. Lafrance or Ms. Doyle to find out what I just said. Anyway, we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.
I want to close by saying if there are any ideas or suggestions that any of you may have for things we could look at in the fall, please feel free to contact Ms. Lafrance or Ms. Doyle during the summer months. I would like to get up and running as soon as we can when we return in September. I look forward to working with you all. Thank you again.
(The committee adjourned.)