The Congress recommended that one of the people be Bernd Christmas, and I heartily endorse Mr. Christmas s inclusion. The Government of Canada also recognizes that developing sustainable fisheries in our First Nations communities is only part of the equation. Aboriginal communities have long told us that they want opportunities for increased access in other areas of Canada s natural resources. That s why we re taking some important steps towards making some fundamental, long-term changes for First Nations. The Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs is now preparing to lead a long-term process to address outstanding questions about Treaty rights and Aboriginal communities access to natural resources.
Strong fisheries can certainly play a role.
Maintaining a sustainable and economically viable resource like fish can help communities gather the economic strength and resources they need to meet their goals in other areas, too. As a businessman myself, I understand that a strong economic base provided by a natural resource like fish can be an excellent building block in the attainment of a community s future economic goals. As I said earlier, strong, sustainable fisheries can lead to strong, sustainable communities . I m here tonight to tell you that my department and myself as Minister remain committed to helping achieve this goal, now and in the years to come. The collaborative training initiatives being discussed at this conference are helping us realize our shared vision of a commercial fishery from which all people can benefit.