Question Period Note: Transformation of the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation

Are there any updates on the transformation of the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation?

• Our government recognizes the important role that the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation has played in the lives of freshwater fish harvesters, including those in remote and northern Indigenous communities, for more than 50 years.
• We are committed to transforming the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation so that it remains competitive in today’s open market and continues to meet the needs of harvesters into the future.
• Until transformation is complete, the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation will operate under its current mandate.

• Headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the FFMC is a federal Crown corporation established in 1969.
• Enabled under the Freshwater Fish Marketing Act (Act, FFMA), the FFMC has the exclusive right to market and trade freshwater fish in interprovincial and export markets in designated products supplied by commercial fishers in participating jurisdictions. The FFMC was established to operate on a self-sustaining basis without government appropriations.
• Over the past 11 years, the FFMC operating environment has experienced significant change. Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba withdrew from the Act in favour of an open market in 2011, 2012 and 2017 respectively, while Alberta closed its commercial in-land fishery in 2014. The Northwest Territories is the only remaining participating jurisdiction under the Act. However, many harvesters from Manitoba and Saskatchewan continue to sell their fish to the FFMC through contracts.
• In order to remain competitive in the open market, FFMC has developed strategies to operate more effectively, including by shifting from a supply-driven marketing model, to one that is driven by customer demand; diversifying revenue; and, aggressively targeting new sales markets.
• Recognizing the need to adapt to the new operating environment, in 2018, a ministerial advisory panel was established to explore ways to transform FFMC to remain modern and competitive in the open market.
• Based on the Ministerial Advisory Panel’s advice, an Interlocutor was appointed to engage with harvesters and other stakeholders in the freshwater fishery as part of the transformation process. In March of 2020, the Interlocutor convened the Interim Committee of Inland Fish Harvesters to advise him in his recommendation to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard.
• In September of 2020, the Interlocutor submitted a report of findings and recommendations for the Minister’s consideration, which recommends that Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) commit to continue working with the Interim Committee to transform the FFMC and provide support to the Interim Committee to secure administrative and technical expertise to allow it to formalize its role in representing fish harvesters in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and the Northwest Territories. On January 21, 2021, the former Minister announced receipt of the Interlocutor’s report.
• Throughout 2021, DFO worked with the Interim Committee to secure administrative and technical expertise to formalize its role in representing fish harvesters in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and the Northwest Territories.
• In August of 2021, the Interim Committee established itself as the Freshwater Fish Harvesters Association, Inc. (FFHAI), a not-for-profit corporation.
• DFO concluded negotiations with the FFHAI to allow the FFHAI to secure secretarial support and technical expertise, research potential co-operative governance models, gather information on the FFMC’s activities, begin to assess the FFMC’s assets and liabilities, and engage freshwater harvesters. FFHAI work is ongoing and will continue to inform potential approaches to transformation.

• Our government recognizes the significant challenges facing the commercial freshwater fishing and fish marketing industry. These include changing market conditions, the effects of climate change, and the residual effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• I know that the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation is working tirelessly to provide stability to the fish harvesters it serves.