QUESTION PERIOD — Fisheries and Oceans
Snow Crab Fishery
October 6, 2026
My question today is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate.
On September 20, Prime Minister Carney and French President Emmanuel Macron held a meeting in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. It was a great show of unity and a combined effort to expand transatlantic cooperation. This meeting marked the first official visit to the French territory by a Canadian prime minister and the first visit by a French president in over a decade. All that was the good news of the day.
A day or two later, it was reported that French President Macron promised an exploratory snow crab licence to a fishing company in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. The licence involves a plan to harvest up to 1,500 tonnes of snow crab annually over five years along the outer edge of the Grand Banks continental shelf.
Federal Minister of Fisheries Joanne Thompson and Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham have strongly condemned this unilateral announcement, asserting that the French lack the authority to grant access to resources off Canada’s continental shelf.
Leader, the issuance of this licence will prove to be detrimental to the crab fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador. Can you tell this chamber what actions the federal government is taking to ensure that this promise by President Macron will never become a reality?
Thank you for the question, Senator Manning. It is a very important one.
I must assure you that the Government of Canada is always committed to defending the interests of the harvesters, families and communities in Newfoundland and Labrador, who count on the snow crab fishery.
You are probably well aware that any discussion between Canada and Saint-Pierre and Miquelon concerning the fishery would go through official channels that you are probably very familiar with.
At this time, I can assure you that no such talks have taken place. I know for sure that Canada has been in touch with French officials and that no such permit has been issued by the French authorities. As far as the government is concerned, we will take into account, first and foremost, the interests of harvesters and fisheries here in Canada.
Thank you, leader. Will you be able to inform us if these talks begin? Maybe we can ask the minister to inform us if the request is made from the French government to the Canadian government. At least then we can be in a position to prepare ourselves for that response if it does come.
Absolutely, senator. I underline once again that the first interest of the Canadian government is to protect our fishery community and all the harvesters and families who make a living from Canadian fisheries.
Again, there is no discussion between Canada and the French authorities concerning any change in that matter.
