The Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans met at 11:13 a.m. this day, in Room 269, West Block, the Chair, Rodney Weston, presiding.

Richard Comerford made a statement and answered questions.

At 12:17 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:22 p.m., the sitting resumed in camera.

At 12:28 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:31 p.m., the sitting resumed.

At 12:35 p.m., the Committee proceeded to sit in public.

Gerry Byrne moved, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans report the following to the House: The Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans fully endorses the harp seal hunt, that it approves of current regulated killing methods, approves that the harvesting of harp seals of the age cohort known as ‘beaters’ and older is fully acceptable and that the Canadian harp seal hunt is humane, responsible and sustainable and should continue for generations to come;

That information of the Committee’s position along with the results of the recorded vote be made immediately available to the public through media advisories prepared by the Clerk and distributed throughout Canada.

Debate arose thereon.

Randy Kamp moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “that it approves of current regulated killing methods, approves that the harvesting of harp seals of the age cohort known as ‘beaters’ and older is fully acceptable and that the Canadian harp seal hunt is humane, responsible and sustainable and should continue for generations to come;” with the words “and the Committee strongly condemns the ban of Canadian seal products by the European Union despite overwhelming evidence in support of its sustainability, humaneness, and value to thousands of coastal Canadian families”.

Debate arose thereon.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Randy Kamp and it was negatived.

Scott Andrews moved, — That the motion be amended by deleting the words “of the age cohort known as ‘beaters’ and older”.

The question was put on the amendment of Scott Andrews and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 10; NAYS: 0.

Blaine Calkins moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the word “come” the following: “and the Committee strongly condemns the ban of Canadian seal products by the European Union”.

The question was put on the amendment of Blaine Calkins and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 10; NAYS: 0.

The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Mike Allen, Scott Andrews, Gerry Byrne, Blaine Calkins, Randy Kamp, Yvon Lévesque, Lawrence MacAulay, Christian Ouellet, Dave Van Kesteren, John Weston — 10; NAYS: — 0.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans report the following to the House: The Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans fully endorses the harp seal hunt, that it approves of current regulated killing methods, approves that the harvesting of harp seals is fully acceptable and that the Canadian harp seal hunt is humane, responsible and sustainable and should continue for generations to come and the Committee strongly condemns the ban of Canadian seal products by the European Union;

That information of the Committee’s position along with the results of the recorded vote be made immediately available to the public through media advisories prepared by the Clerk and distributed throughout Canada.

At 1:06 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.