The budget bill before parliament has a great many tentacles affecting everything from oil and gas exploration to environmental assessment to fish. One outspoken critic, a former Progressive Conservative fisheries minister calls it a return to the Dark Ages.
Changes to the Fisheries Act
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Part Two of The Current
Changes to the Fisheries Act - Minister for Fisheries and Oceans
The Omnibus Budget Bill that's before Parliament this week covers an array of legislation that you might not connect right away to the budget. For example, there are changes to the Environmental Assessment Act, the National Pipeline Act, and the Canada Oil and Gas Exploration Act.
All, according to government officials, under the auspice of streamlining government services to Canadians. All are controversial. But suggested changes to the Fisheries Act really hit a nerve.
Critics say the amendments erect serious barriers to conservation, and put fish stocks in danger. Those critics include Des Nobels, a longtime commercial fisherman and conservationist. We caught up with him on the shores of Digby Island, just across the harbour from Prince Rupert, on the coast of British Columbia.
To talk about the overhaul of the Fisheries Act, we were joined by Keith Ashfield, Minister for Fisheries and Oceans. He was in Ottawa.
Changes to the Fisheries Act - Former Federal Fisheries Minister
One former Fisheries Minister is openly critical of what the current Fisheries Minister is proposing. Tom Siddon was Minister from 1985 to 1990 in the Progressive Conservative Government of Brian Mulroney. He is responsible in bringing in the fisheries habitat policy now in place. And he's extremely concerned about the proposed changes to the Act. Tom Siddon joined us from Kaleden, British Columbia.
This segment was produced by St. John's CBC Producer, Heather Barrett.
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