Parliament

Another position in Ottawa for MP Alexis Deschênes

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Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

OTTAWA – Alexis Deschênes, Member of Parliament (MP) for Gaspésie-Les-Îles-de-la-Madeleine-Listuguj, has been appointed vice-chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans.

The committee members elected him to this position on June 17 at the Parliament in Ottawa.
This is another role added to his existing duties as deputy leader of the Bloc Québécois and spokesperson for fisheries, oceans, the coast guard, and the St. Lawrence Seaway.

“I am very pleased to have this title, which will allow me to chair meetings at certain times. The Bloc Québécois’ position is interesting because we are a recognized party. In addition to the Conservatives and the Liberal Party, this gives us a certain role. If I ally myself with the Conservatives, I can block the Liberals. If I ally myself with the Liberals, I can block the Conservatives. We have a form of balance of power,” says the MP.

He succeeded in getting the committee to accept a review of the process for allocating fishing rights.
“(That’s) what happened with redfish, but also with exploratory lobster permits in the Gaspé Peninsula and the Magdalen Islands in 2024 and 2025. The idea is not to take away permits from those who have them. There are many people who are unhappy with the way they were allocated,” explains the Bloc Québécois member.

“Ultimately, the idea is to see if we can better guide the political authorities when they grant fishing licenses so that the process is more transparent and generates more support,” said the elected official.

This was part of the Bloc Québécois’ election platform.

“An investigation was conducted to fully understand how fishing rights are allocated. The goal was to identify irregularities and establish an independent agency to grant them. That was part of our platform. At the end of the study, I think it will become quite clear what improvements could be made. Another topic for study is the revision of the Fisheries Act. In this context, the study will allow me to make proposals to amend the Act. If we play our cards right, we could improve the Act,” he says.
The committee’s work will officially begin in the fall.

The elected official spoke with the new Minister of Fisheries about diversifying export markets.
“We agree on that,” adds the MP.

This responsibility could take him to coastal regions across Canada.

“I am first and foremost the MP for Gaspésie-Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine-Listuguj and then the spokesperson for Fisheries and Oceans for the Bloc Québécois. This summer, I want to visit the fishermen on the North Shore, because there is fishing there too. As for going abroad, I don’t have any plans at this time,” he says.

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MP says there’s nothing good for Quebec in the Speech from the Throne

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Nelson Sergerie, LJi Journalist

OTTAWA – Alexis Deschênes, the Bloc Québécois Member of Parliament (MP) for the riding of Gaspésie-Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine-Listuguj believes that the Speech from the Throne, read on May 27, by King Charles III, in Parliament, contains nothing for Quebec’s regions. 

In his first appearance in the House of Commons, Alexis Deschênes spoke on behalf of his party during an “Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne.” 

“The Speech from the Throne gives no space to the interests of our regions. We are coming off an election campaign totally focused on the importance of protecting our economy from Donald Trump. Yet, the Speech from the Throne makes no mention of Quebec’s forestry industry and its needs in the softwood lumber dispute. It makes no mention of aluminum, one of the sectors hit by American tariffs. It makes no mention of fisheries, a sector as precious as it is fragile, whose exports are far too dependent on the Americans,” the MP asserted. 

According to him, the speech, read by a British monarch, could have been written in London, “It is so out of touch with the needs of Quebecers.” 

Meanwhile, moments before Mr. Deschênes’ first address to Parliament, members of the Bloc Québécois caucus welcomed his arrival in the House, and the MP also emphasized the trust placed in him by voters. 

“I will strive at every opportunity to live up to it and defend the interests of Quebec and its regions,” the MP promised. 

Furthermore, the MP has been named the Bloc Québécois critic for fisheries, oceans, the coast guard, and the St. Lawrence Seaway. The Bloc member sees this role as an additional role to that of Deputy House Leader. 

Mr. Deschênes said he has met with several fishermen, plant workers, and industry stakeholders in recent weeks and intends to remain attentive. Among his priorities, the elected official will seek funding for economic diversification missions, create an independent agency for the management of stocks, permits, and quotas, improve port infrastructure, and correct the injustices experienced by pelagic fishermen. 

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Concordia to consider adopting the IHRA antisemitism definition

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Concordia University will consider the implementation of the IHRA definition of antisemitism. Photo Alice Martin

Maria Cholakova,
Local Journalism Initiative

IHRA’s definition of antisemitism has been widely debated

On May 27, Concordia University, McGill University, University of British Columbia and University of Toronto (UofT) presidents attended a House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights meeting to speak about antisemitism on Canadian university campuses. 

During the hearing, criminal defence lawyer Mark Sandler presented 14 recommendations to the members of Parliament (MP) that aim to address antisemitism in Canada. 

One of the recommendations constitutes the implementation of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism in all levels of government, educational institutions, police services and human rights commissions.

IHRA’s definition of antisemitism has been criticized by 128 scholars, who have described it as aiming to “discredit and silence legitimate criticism of Israel’s policies as antisemitism.”

Concordia President Graham Carr spoke in front of Parliament on how the university has been handling antisemitism on campus. 

In his testimony, Carr highlighted the Nov. 8, 2023 Hall building altercation, when an escalation between Concordia’s Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights and Israeli student club StartUp Nation led to two arrests, due to tensions between the clubs.

“That incident gave Concordia a black eye,” Carr said. 

When MP Anthony Housefather asked if Concordia would adopt the IHRA definition, Carr said that he will “consider it going forward” and that his team has already had a meeting regarding the potential implementation of the definition. 

Of the four universities, only UofT rejected the implementation of the IHRA definition of antisemitism. 

According to Concordia’s spokesperson, the university expects that the Standing Together against Racism and Identity-based Violence (STRIVE) Task Force’s subcommittee on antisemitism will evaluate whether the IHRA definition needs to be implemented.
Housefather also asked Carr if he opposed the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement, also known as BDS, with Housefather describing it as “demonization and delegitimization of Israel.” 

Carr explained that “the university’s position, since 2014, has been in opposition to BDS.” 

Later in the meeting, Carr also testified to the importance of combating hate speech while not limiting freedom of expression. 

According to Carr, the university has seen over 70 academic events by both Pro-Palestinian and Pro-Israeli students. During the 2023-24 academic year, the university cancelled four Pro-Palestinian events and one Pro-Israeli event, all of which aimed to bring external guests on campus.

MPs encouraged university presidents to enforce their Codes of Conduct, prevent hate speech on campus and fight antisemitism. 

Several MPs and speakers talked about the importance of conflating antisemitism and anti-Zionism. 

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