Members of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans visited coastal communities in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Quebec in October to assess social, economic and environmental impacts of marine protected areas in the region.
The committee is looking to ensure all traditional uses and values are duly considered and respected in the criteria and process for identifying and establishing marine protected area.
Committee Chair Scott Simms (Coast of Bays-Central-Notre Dame) was joined by Pat Finnigan (Miramichi-Grand Lake), Bernadette Jordan (South Shore-St. Margarets), Robert Morrissey (Egmont), Mel Arnold (North Okanagan-Shuswap), Todd Doherty (Cariboo-Prince George) and Wayne Stetski (Kootenay-Columbia).
The Committee visited the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia on Oct. 16, then moved on to consultations in Cheticamp and Sydney on Oct. 17 and 18 respectively. The Committee stopped in Gaspe, Quebec on Oct. 19 before wrapping up its tour by hearing from interested parties in Shippagan, New Brunswick on Oct. 20.
