QUESTION PERIOD — Fisheries and Oceans
International Pacific Halibut Commission
December 5, 2023
My question is for Senator Gold.
I recently participated in a Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group delegation to Washington, D.C., and a separate but simultaneous delegation with the Yukon MP and Yukon First Nations representatives. During a meeting with Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, it came up that Canada is delinquent on our financial obligations to the International Pacific Halibut Commission. Would you please ask the appropriate member of cabinet why Canada’s payment to this important commission is outstanding?
Senator, thank you for bringing this to my attention. I certainly was not aware of this and will make the appropriate inquiries to the minister.
Thank you. The dwindling Yukon River salmon stocks are emerging as an international issue. Senator Gold, will you encourage the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard to meet with Yukoners to learn first‑hand, particularly from First Nations people, about the devastation that these dwindling salmon stocks are causing in the Yukon, to raise the profile of Yukon River salmon and ask the Minister of Fisheries to raise this matter with her U.S. counterpart at the first opportunity?
I certainly will add that to the inquiries that I will make, and I would encourage the Government of Yukon and the appropriate ministers within that government to raise this issue with their counterparts.
It is my understanding that the ongoing relationship between governments and ministers within the government are appropriate tables for that, but I will do my part as well.
