In the House

Mr. Fin Donnelly (New Westminster—Coquitlam, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, Canada has the longest coastline on Earth and I rise today to draw attention to World Oceans Day.

As Canadians watch the gulf coast catastrophe unfold, it becomes overwhelmingly evident that concrete action must be taken now to protect our oceans.

Mr Speaker:

Mr. Fin Donnelly (New Westminster—Coquitlam, NDP):

Mr Speaker;

I rise in the house today to introduce two bills that aim to protect our youth in a way that this government has yet to address.

This legislation brings forward work that my predecessor and good friend Dawn Black began.

Today, I move these two bills that deal with child luring, a danger to all communities across Canada.

The first, expands the definition of child luring to include all forms of communication, be it electronic, by cellular phone, or otherwise.

Mr. Fin Donnelly (New Westminster—Coquitlam, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, in a report released today, Dr. Andrew Wright states that land-based, closed containment salmon farming is economically and technically feasible and is less environmentally damaging than current open-net farming.

We know the government wants to expand west coast aquaculture. We also know that sea lice from fish farms are having a negative impact on wild salmon.

Mr. Fin Donnelly (New Westminster—Coquitlam, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in the House to introduce a Bill that aims to strengthen the Fisheries Act by requiring fish farm operations on BC's West Coast to move to closed containment.

The Bill directs the Fisheries Minister to develop, table and implement a transition plan, outlining how fish farm operations would make that move.

Mr. Speaker, The plan must ensure that those currently working in the industry will be protected during this transition.

Mr. Fin Donnelly (New Westminster—Coquitlam, NDP):

In 2006, the Conservative government promised funding for 2,500 new police officers.

Municipalities like New Westminster, Coquitlam and Port Moody were counting on this money for their police forces.

Coquitlam, for example, has one of the lowest police to population ratios in the country, at 1 member for every 939 people.

Mr. Fin Donnelly (New Westminster—Coquitlam, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, last year Fraser River sockeye, which passed through a gauntlet of salmon farms in Georgia Strait, suffered a massive loss. However, that same year the Harrison salmon run, which did not pass by those fish farms, reported good returns. Coincidence? Possibly.

However, at a time when countries are reporting major problems with sea lice outbreaks, fish farms and declining fish stocks, the government says there is no problem here.

Mr. Fin Donnelly (New Westminster—Coquitlam, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, sea lice is a serious problem for west coast salmon. Around the world, fish farms have been identified as a major source of sea lice infestations.

The government has launched an inquiry but by the time the recommendations come out it may be too late to protect our wild salmon.

Will the minister admit that there is a problem, do the right thing and start addressing the sea lice problem immediately, or will she allow the Pacific west coast salmon to go the way of the Atlantic cod?

Canada Shipping Act

Mr. Fin Donnelly (New Westminster—Coquitlam, NDP) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-502, An Act to amend the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 (prohibition against oil tankers in Dixon Entrance, Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound).

Mr. Fin Donnelly (New Westminster—Coquitlam, NDP): Mr. Speaker, for almost 40 years the B.C. coast has been oil tanker free. However, that is now threatened by the Enbridge pipeline proposal that promises to bring tar sand crude from Alberta to B.C.'s coast for export. All it would take is one accident to inflict serious damage on the coastal ecosystem and the economy. The risk is not worth it.

Will the government step away from this pipeline and reaffirm the moratorium on oil tanker traffic?