Sportfishing Defence Alliance

PUBLICATION: The Record (Kitchener, Cambridge And Waterloo)

DATE: 2007.03.17

EDITION: Final

SECTION: Sports

PAGE: E3

BYLINE: BILL THOMPSON

SOURCE: RECORD STAFF

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Bill C-45 a disaster for recreational fishing

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If you want start a boisterous discussion among the nation's angling fraternity, just mention Bill C-45, a radical and controversial re-write of the 138-year-old federal Fisheries Act.

Many Canadians -- especially on the east and west coast -- feel that it is nothing but a blatant attempt to privatize the Canadian public fishery.

"The bill, if accepted in its present form, would be a disaster for recreational anglers,'' says Bill Otway of B.C.'s Sport fishing Defence Alliance.

Otway notes that not once has Ottawa mentioned Section 43 of the bill, which relates to the ongoing battle among commercial and recreational anglers in Canada's coastal regions.

"Have a look at the current situation with regard to halibut in B.C., where the previous government gave the commercial fishermen ownership of 88 per cent of the resource; this policy is being continued by this current government.''

In short, according to Otway, if the recreational sector in B.C. required more than its allotted 12 per cent, it would have to buy or lease that amount from the commercial fishing sector. Yet, Otway says, federal fisheries officials have also acknowledged to recreational anglers that commercial halibut fishermen have no property or ownership rights to the halibut fishery.

"Well, if the commercial sector doesn't own the fishery, how can they sell or lease it?'' Otway said.

"I look forward to seeing what Ontario anglers -- looking for more walleye on Lake Erie -- would say if they were told that they would have to do the same with the commercial sector on the Great Lakes."

The proposed act is getting the cold shoulder on the east coast, as well.

Last week, writing in the Charlottetown Guardian, NDP fisheries critic Peter Stoffer said, "If the act is so good, why has John Cummins, the only commercial fisherman in the House of Commons, been tossed off the standing committee on fisheries and oceans by Stephen Harper because Cummins said Bill C-45 is the wrong way to go?''

Cummins is a longtime Progressive Conservative loyalist and represents the British Columbia riding of Delta-Richmond East.

In Ontario, both the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and the Ministry of Natural Resources seem confident that the Harper government will make some alterations to the act before it's written in stone.

In a news release, Dr. Terry Quinney, the federation's manager of fish and wildlife, indicated that the federation is optimistic that the revised act will contain new, beneficial legislation regarding recreational fishing.

"Keeping in mind that the MNR has already been delegated a great deal of authority to manage Ontario's fisheries resources . . . the changes promised to us will entrench the importance of recreational fishing and involve anglers and conservation organizations, such as the federation, more directly in decision making.''

Closer to home, Loyola Hearn, the federal minister of fisheries and oceans, tried to offer a measure of Bill C-45 re-assurance to the Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association at its mid-February meeting in Mississauga. Hearn represents the riding of St. John's South-Mount Pearl (Newfoundland and Labrador).

In his speech, the minister said that he recognizes that Bill C-45 isn't perfect yet and pointed out that "there was lots of room for improvement.''

One thing that isn't open for discussion, as the CSIA pointed out, is the fact that the Supreme Court of Canada has confirmed that Canada's fisheries resources are a resource belonging to all Canadians -- not just special interests.

The Supreme Court has also stated that Hearn and his ministry have the duty to manage, conserve and develop the fishery on behalf of all Canadians and in the public interest.

The bill was set for second reading on Feb. 23, but is now on hold. The controversy continues in the meantime.

I happen to think that Otway is bang on in his commentary about Bill C-45 -- and the best way to escalate the debate is for concerned individuals to contact their local MPs.

outdoorswithbill@rogers.co