QUESTION PERIOD — Fisheries and Oceans
Seal Products
May 28, 2024
My question is for the Leader of the Government. The Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans recently released a report on Canada’s seal population, and we learned, among other things, that the government fails to promote seal products at the international level. For example, seal products were not included in the original agenda of the 19th Canada-EU Leaders’ Summit in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, in 2023.
Senator Gold, the committee heard that the federal government’s action will shape the future of the sealing industry. How does the government plan to develop and implement a campaign to promote traditional and innovative Canadian seal products?
Thank you for the question. As I mentioned in an earlier response, senator, the government is keen to work with stakeholders in exploring ways in which the market for seal products can be expanded and nurtured, especially the market abroad, and will continue to engage with stakeholders and interested parties in those efforts.
The committee also heard that there continues to be a lack of awareness of the Indigenous harvest exemption and the personal use exemption to the European Union’s ban on seal products among retailers and within the tourism industry. Senator Gold, many tourists avoid buying seal products thinking that they may not be allowed to bring them back to their country. How does the government plan on ensuring that these regulations are publicly available and communicated to the public?
Thank you for highlighting the importance of the rules which, though undoubtedly available on websites, are not clearly known to the public. I think that as the government engages with stakeholders to explore ways to expand that, clearly communicating the rules of the game should be an important part of that endeavour.
