“Two pieces of fish and chips please,” is a very common order when eating out anywhere across Canada but especially so in Atlantic Canada. So, what kind of fish is inside that wonderful tasting batter anyway? Cod? Hmm, not likely!

It has become a common denominator of government, hasn’t it, not listening to their own scientists? They didn’t and don’t listen to modern science when considering the unborn child, they didn’t listen to modern science when they decided to change the definition of marriage and they didn’t listen to science when it came to the groundfishery. (There’s more but I’ll stop with those three)

CHP Canada’s position on the unborn and marriage is well know. But, what about the Atlantic groundfishery? What is CHP Canada’s position on that?

Mismanagement by the Canadian Government, in dealing with competition within the Atlantic Cod fishery, resulted in decades of overfishing. Tragically, in 1989, the Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) failed to live up to its mandate, as steward of our ocean’s resources, by denying there was a crisis. By the time the government decided to listen to their scientists – it was too late. As a result, the entire web of support industries that relied on the groundfishery, and all the families associated, were devastated.

CHP Canada has a comprehensive platform that will see honesty restored to the management of the groundfishery, we will put fishing communities back to work and have them co-manage the industry on which their livelihoods depend. CHP Canada’s plan will provide ecological sustainability of the resource and economic sustainability of coastal communities today and for many generations to come.

How? Here is just a small sample:

• CHP Canada will establish a total maximum tonnage taken from the ocean and thus implement a Total Allowable Catch to replace the current wasteful Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) system. This will remove the current ‘shopping lists.’
• High Grading, will be eliminated. There will be only one price per kg for each species of fish, regardless of size, and prices will rise and fall depending on supply and demand.
• CHP Canada will implement and monitor conservation measures; fishermen agree that the Fisheries Act never had any real groundfish conservation measures built into it. A period of time will be determined for the ocean to rest and replenish, ideally during the spawning seasons.
• CHP Canada will reallocate harvesting rights to favour the small boat ‘hook and line’ sector. A CHP government will provide funding for those willing to convert their vessels to the more labour-intensive hook and line method.
• To ensure there is ongoing accountability, CHP Canada will establish an ‘independent’ (non-governmental ) local watchdog assigned to different areas and there will be total transparency with public finances.
• The fisheries will need science for proper management control; therefore CHP Canada will ensure that adequate funding is always available to DFO for this purpose, and, as per all funding, it will be subject to regular budgetary review.

What I have shared is only a sample and we invite everyone to read here how the Christian Heritage Party of Canada’s complete plan will effectively re-establish sustainable fisheries and re-ignite the Atlantic fishing community’s energy and pride that have always been a part of our Canadian heritage.

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