Conservative MP Rick Perkins speaking in the House of Commons. Photo: Office of Rick Perkins.
South Shore- St.Margarets MP Rick Perkins was elected as the Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Fisheries, Oceans,
and the Canadian Coast Guard.
With the formation of a new government, the committee held elections for all its chair positions on Tuesday, December 14.
Perkins along with Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix MP Caroline DesBiens were selected as the two vice-chairs. Perkins’s appointment meets the requirement that a Vice-Chair position is held by a member of the official opposition.
Newfoundland Liberal MP Ken McDonald was re-elected as chair of the committee, a role he’s filled for the entirety of Justin Trudeau’s leadership.
The committee’s mandate is to study issues concerning fisheries in Canada and report to the House of Commons. Generally, they conduct research and reports that are then used to inform Ottawas decisions surrounding fishery issues.
In response to his appointment, Perkins stated his intent to protect Nova Scotian fishermen.
“For too long, fisheries in Nova Scotia have been neglected by this Liberal government. Whether it’s their mishandling of the tensions in southwest Nova last year, their attempts to shut down more of our oceans to commercial fishing, or their lack of action on addressing predation and invasive species, this Liberal government has let down commercial fishers in Nova Scotia.”
“I will continue to stand up for the commercial fishery on all coasts in this role and look forward to working with my Conservative colleagues to tackle the many challenges faced by fishermen across the country.”
Following the election, the committee resolved to meet again early in the new year.
