Federal committee debates offshore wind energy bill
Fishing can continue alongside renewable energy ‘where feasible’: Parsons
Andrew Parsons is hoping a federal committee of MPS will change their minds about an amendment to proposed offshore wind legislation — an amendment that was put forward by federal Conservatives to protect the fishing industry.
The Newfoundland and Labrador energy minister expressed this sentiment in a letter to the Standing Committee on Natural Resources in March.
The committee has been meeting since January, and most recently met on March 21. It is debating Bill C-49, which aims to amend the Accord Acts to expand offshore regulation to include renewable energy.
PRESERVING FISHING INDUSTRY
One of the many witnesses to appear before the committee was Katie Power, an industry relations representative for the Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) union.
The FFAW’S brief to the committee contained several suggestions to improve the proposed legislation from the union’s perspective.
It said respect for the natural environment and existing ocean users should be included in the legislation as guiding principles, and that it could be easily achieved with an amendment.
The federal Conservatives on the committee asked for that amendment, with some changes to the language.
The amendment, which was carried on Feb. 29, said in part, “importance shall be given to the development of measures to assist in the preservation of the fishing industry, including measures to assist in understanding and maintaining the environmental characteristics of the offshore area that support that industry.”
CONCERNS WITH AMENDMENT
On March 15, Parsons wrote to the committee to have the amendment changed.
In his letter, he said the provincial government recognizes the importance of the fishing industry to the province, and that it provides significant economic benefits, and that the government intends to ensure those benefits continue.
“We do, however, have several concerns with this amendment,” Parsons wrote.
“Ensuring the sustainability of the fishing industry involves a comprehensive understanding of the environmental factors shaping it, extending beyond the purview of the Accord Acts and encompassing considerations beyond interactions with energy projects.”
He said the amendment also fails to recognize that the evaluation of potential impacts from energy projects is already assessed through other means, such as regional assessments, spatial planning, and regulatory review processes.
“Most notably, however, the acceptance of this amendment does not align with the principles of joint management,” Parsons wrote.
He said the province wasn’t consulted on the amendment.
ALTERNATE AMENDMENT PROPOSED
Parsons said the province is committed to meaningful dialogue with the fishing industry as future land tenure and regulatory processes for offshore renewable energy projects are developed and implemented.
“A key objective of the regulatory system will be to identify potential impacts on fishers, and to minimize and mitigate any issues to the extent possible while promoting coexistence.
“Where feasible, fishing activities will be able to continue to take place in areas that also have offshore renewable energy activity,” he wrote.
He proposed to the committee an alternate amendment, which states: “during the submerged land licence issuance process, importance shall be given to the consideration of effects on fishing activities.”
NEXT STEPS
Parsons’ letter was brought up at the most recent committee meeting on March 21, and everyone agreed to think about it further.
A date has not yet been publicly announced for the next committee meeting. MPS do not sit again in the House of Commons until April 8, according to the parliamentary calendar.
AMENDMENT DEBATE
On Feb. 29 when the Conservative amendment was carried, Conservative MP Jeremy Patzer explained why he proposed it.
“We did hear several witnesses talk about the importance of the fishing industry and the need to be consulted, and we heard repeatedly that they were not. I think it’s about making sure that any project will substantially consider the plight of the fishing industry, which is the main industry in these provinces,” he said.
Liberal MP John Aldag said there are already mechanisms within the existing Accord Acts and Bill C-49 that provide for assessments to look at the impact of potential energy projects. Aldag called the amendment an “unnecessary addition” and said the Liberals would not support it.
NDP MP Charlie Angus said the committee heard a lot of concern from the fishing sector, not just about the economic impact of the fishery, but about the fragility of where they work.
Angus said the amendment was straightforward.
“If the provinces have a problem with looking after the fisheries, well, I think they have to go back and talk to their own people,” he said.
“I don’t think this is overriding, demanding or changing anything that exists. It’s just reminding us that we have to not let the very fragile fisheries be damaged,” Angus said.
Conservative MP Shannon Stubbs said it’s about protecting the livelihoods, businesses and generational family investments of fishermen.
“I think it would be shocking to the people of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador if the Liberal MPS on this committee did not support this amendment,” Stubbs said.
Ultimately, the Conservative, NDP and Bloc Québécois members of the committee voted in support of the amendment, and the Liberal members voted against it, narrowly approving it in a 6-5 vote.