The Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans met in a televised session at 3:34 p.m. this day, in Room 269, West Block, the Chair, Rodney Weston, presiding.

The Minister made a statement and, with the other witnesses, answered questions.

At 4:31 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:35 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Gerry Byrne moved, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee report the following to the House:

That, given the evidence heard by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans at hearings in March, May and October 2009, and the serious concerns recently expressed by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Committee recommends that the Government of Canada not ratify the amendment to the Convention on future multilateral cooperation in the northwest altantic fisheries adopted by the General Council of the Northwest Fisheries Atlantic Organization (NAFO) in 2007, and that Canada notify NAFO of its objection to the amendment as per Article XXI of the Convention.

Debate arose thereon.

Randy Kamp moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “and that Canada notify NAFO of its objection to the amendment as per Article XXI of the Convention” with the words “until the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans has had an additional twenty-one (21) sitting days to study the matter further and to report the results of that study to the House”.

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

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee report the following to the House:

That, given the evidence heard by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans at hearings in March, May and October 2009, and the serious concerns recently expressed by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Committee recommends that the Government of Canada not ratify the amendment to the Convention on future multilateral cooperation in the northwest altantic fisheries adopted by the General Council of the Northwest Fisheries Atlantic Organization (NAFO) in 2007, until the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans has had an additional twenty-one (21) sitting days to study the matter further and to report the results of that study to the House.

At 5:01 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.