House of Commons Debates VOLUME 148 Ï NUMBER 283 Ï 1st SESSION Ï 42nd PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Monday, April 23, 2018 Speaker: The Honourable Geoff Regan CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 18579 HOUSE OF COMMONS Monday, April 23, 2018 The House met at 11 a.m. protection and recovery of whales. We know that Canadians from coast to coast to coast are deeply concerned about the long-term protection and recovery of these magnificent mammals. Prayer Currently in Canada, we have a global population of 450 North Atlantic right whales, 900 St. Lawrence estuary belugas, and a southern resident killer whale population of just 76. PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS Our approach to finding solutions must continue to be driven by Ï (1105) research, in collaboration with fishing and marine transportation [English] industries, indigenous communities, the tourism industry, and international stakeholders. The world's leading scientists and others ENDANGERED WHALES have long worked with marine industries to find a balance that Ms. Karen Ludwig (New Brunswick Southwest, Lib.) moved: provides maximum protection to whales and minimal disruption to That the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans be instructed to undertake a industry. study on the situation of endangered whales and be mandated to (i) identify steps that could be taken to better protect and help the recovery of right, beluga, and killer whales, (ii) identify immediate and longer term improvements limiting the impact of Over the past six months, I have consulted with over 50 experts human activities on each of these species and, by so doing, add to recovery efforts and stakeholders across our great country and the United States. and to recommendations for new or enhanced actions, (iii) call expert witnesses on Their collective voice is clear. We need to do what Canadians and the each of the species, hearing from those who might be impacted by any possible global community expect us to do on this issue. Time is of the actions, and working to find a balance among various competing claims; and that the Committee present its final report to the House within four months of the adoption of essence, and we do have the means to meet this challenge. this motion. In New Brunswick Southwest, our marine ecosystem is one of the She said: Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise in the House today to most vital parts of our economy. When it comes to the environment present Motion No. 154, my motion to enhance the protection and and the ocean's ecosystem, whales help regulate the flow of food by recovery of Canada's endangered whale species. helping to maintain a stable food chain and ensuring that certain New Brunswick Southwest, the riding I am honoured to represent, animal species do not overpopulate the ocean. Whales are a sentinel is situated along the beautiful Bay of Fundy. My interest in the for the health of our ecosystem, and they are sending us a message. protection and recovery of whales was initially based on my Their situation speaks volumes to the long-term sustainability of our experience locally, and what they mean to us from an ecological, ocean industries. cultural, and economic standpoint. I want to thank the Minister of Fisheries for his immediate and Whales are the largest and the most intelligent mammals in our effective leadership last summer on the situation of the right whale. oceans. The endangerment of whales is an indication of the state and The department acted quickly to implement measures in the Gulf of health of our oceans. The dramatic loss of 17 North Atlantic right St. Lawrence to protect these magnificent mammals. whales in 2017 heightened my interest to advocate for their protection and population recovery. With two other whale species Since that time, the Minister of Fisheries and the Minister of at risk, the southern resident killer whale and the St. Lawrence Transport have introduced even more robust measures to protect the estuary beluga, it became clear that my private member's motion North Atlantic right whale, including an earlier start and end to the should encompass all of Canada's endangered whale species. snow crab fishing season in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence; fixed and temporary closures where whales are spotted; an earlier speed From my riding, in 2017, we tragically lost Joseph Howlett while restriction for ships in the western gulf; and dramatic increase in he was disentangling a North Atlantic right whale. Joe participated in aerial and at-sea surveillance to detect the whales. nearly 30 whale rescues over the past 15 years. As parliamentarians, we also have the unique opportunity to Their efforts and new measures, combined with ongoing scientific advocate on issues that matter to Canadians and, in this case, to the research and recent investments in marine protection in budget 2018, researchers, whale rescuers, and others who work so tirelessly for the give us every indication that our government is on the right track. 18580 COMMONS DEBATES April 23, 2018 Private Members' Business I want to recognize the work of Dr. Moira Brown and her team at Both immediate and long-term action is required to protect these the Canadian Whale Institute. Dr. Brown has been a tireless advocate iconic species. There is no single solution to this problem. for the protection of the right whale for over 30 years. Most recently, Dr. Brown has said: The Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans would play an The population decline since 2011 demonstrates that right whales do not have the important role in studying the effectiveness of protection and capacity to sustain low birth rates and high death rates for very long. If mortality rates recovery measures to date, hearing from expert witnesses, hearing remain the same as between 2011 and 2015, with so few breeding females alive, the from those who might be impacted by any possible actions, and species could become functionally extinct in less than 25 years. working to find a balance among the various stakeholders. Although there were no new calves born this year, we must remain optimistic that there will be positive outcomes because of the new In closing, on a personal note, I would like to dedicate this motion measures our government has put in place. We have the means to to Joseph Howlett. The dedication of the volunteers and staff who meet this challenge. participate in whale disentanglement rescues is inspirational to us all. Ï (1110) That is why I am urging members to join me and demonstrate support of Motion No. 154. Let me give an example. As early as 2007, a study conducted between the Grand Manan Basin and the Roseway Basin determined In my opinion, as parliamentarians, we have a responsibility to that reducing vessel speed from 12 knots to 10 knots reduces the risk explore every avenue available to us to enhance the protection and of a ship strike by 30%, and that in beautiful Bay of Fundy, shifting recovery of Canada's endangered whale species. I look forward to the shipping lane by four nautical miles to the east reduces the risk of taking my granddaughter out on a boat in the Bay of Fundy where a vessel collision by 90%. she, too, will fall in love with the ocean, teaming with minkes, humpbacks, and right whales. Canadians and our future generations I am convinced that, as we have done with the North Atlantic right deserve nothing less. whale, similar actions can be taken for the recovery of the beluga and killer whales. In all instances, we need to identify longer-term Ï (1115) improvements to limit the impact of human activities on these species. Mr. Fin Donnelly (Port Moody—Coquitlam, NDP): Mr. Speaker, while I appreciate the intention of the member's motion, The situation of the beluga and killer whales is different from that will she not agree that the time for study is over? We need immediate of the North Atlantic right whale. These species tend to be threatened action for the 76 southern resident killer whales that she identified in primarily by pollution, noise from shipping, and access to prey. The her speech. We need the government to issue an immediate current population of the St. Lawrence estuary beluga is a mere 900. emergency order under the Species at Risk Act. We do not need another study. Will the member agree that the time for action is now Robert Michaud, the president and scientific director of the Group and that we do not need yet another study? for Research and Education on Marine Mammals, highlighted this important fact. He said: Ms. Karen Ludwig: Mr. Speaker, certainly just 76 southern The history of other species of cetaceans has taught us that populations can resident killer whales is an alarming number, but finally we have a decline from 5,000 individuals to extinction in less than twenty years. With a government stepping up to do the research and do its homework. I population of 900, the St. Lawrence belugas urgently need effective measures of am very proud of our government and the initiatives that have been protection. taken, the dedication to research. In addition to that, we also have the Even more daunting, the current estimated population of the accountability and responsibility to look at how the measures southern resident killer whale is, alarmingly, 76. The range of the currently in place can be monitored and reviewed and to take into southern resident population includes water adjacent to Vancouver, consideration the Species at Risk Act. where there is high shipping traffic and other human impacts.