John Cummins, M.P. Delta-South Richmond

News Release

November 5, 2002

Liberals Hijack the Fisheries Committee
Plot to Silence Cummins Will Not work

OTTAWA– "The Liberal majority dominating the House of Commons Fisheries Committee has betrayed fishermen yet again," said John Cummins, M.P. (Delta-South Richmond).

The Liberals engineered the election of Toronto lawyer and Liberal M.P. Tom Wappell as Chair of the Fisheries Committee. Wappell, a fourteen year veteran of Parliament, is a new comer to the Fisheries Committee, having only served on the Committee since 2001.

In electing a Toronto lawyer as Chair, the Liberal majority ignored Newfoundland M.P.s Lawrence O'Brien, Bill Matthews and John Efford, New Brunswick M.P. Dominic LeBlanc, and Nova Scotia M.P. Rodger Cuzner.

The Ontario M.P.'s election was guaranteed when the Government stacked the Committee with five Liberal M.P.s from Ontario, three of whom were replacing absent East Coast Liberal M.P.s.

Elected Government Vice-Chair was another newcomer, Cape Breton M.P. Rodger Cuzner. The Government also nominated and elected NDP M.P. Peter Stoffer as Opposition Vice-Chair defeating CA incumbent Cummins.

In the Spring Session of Parliament the Fisheries Committee had been highly critical of the Government's failure to protect fish stocks on the Nose and Tail of the Grand Banks. Activism of this sort which embarrassed Fisheries Minister Robert Thibault is now unlikely to be repeated.

Furthermore, the Liberal majority will ensure that Committee studies already underway on the Fraser River fishery and on the effects of fish farms on wild stocks are supportive of Government policy.

"It is unfortunate that the interests of fishermen and the fishery have been relegated to second place by a Government effort to defang the Fisheries Committee."

"I will continue to fight for fishermen and the fishery," concluded Cummins.

Contact: John Cummins, M.P.
(613) 992-2957 or cell (604) 970-0937