OTTAWA - The Government of Canada tabled its response to a report on the Aboriginal Communal Fishing Licences Regulations by the Standing Joint Committee on the Scrutiny of Regulations (SJC) last Friday in the House of Commons.

The Government's response addresses technical matters about aspects of the Aboriginal Communal Fishing Licences Regulations (ACFLR) that were raised in the Committee's report. The SJC report was tabled in Parliament in June 2002.

"The Government has given the SJC's report serious consideration. While the SJC and the Government have different views with respect to the ACFLR, the Government has sought and made changes to the regulations for the purpose of providing greater certainty and clarity," said the Honourable Robert G. Thibault, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. "I want to point out that the regulations remain valid and in force."

Amendments to the regulations were made in June 2002 to respond to two of three matters raised by the Committee. Minister Thibault indicated that for greater certainty, the Government will be seeking an amendment to the Fisheries Act at the first appropriate opportunity to address the third matter.

The Minister pointed out that the SJC's report does not substantively affect the way business is conducted in the Aboriginal fishery. In fact, the Committee's report acknowledges that the Fisheries Act provides sufficient authority to implement the policy of the Government.

The ACFLR are an important component of Fisheries and Oceans Canada's Aboriginal Fisheries Strategy and its Marshall Response Initiative. They provide for conservation of the resource and the orderly management of Aboriginal fishing.

Contacts:

Sophie Galarneau
Manager, Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa
(613) 998-1530

Jennifer Savoy
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa
(613) 992-3474