Dear Editor,

Let me correct some of PEI MP Lawrence MacAulay's claims [Randy Kamp must start saving fish, June 28 Letters, TIMES].

Our government was elected on a mandate of job-creation and economic growth, which we are clearly delivering on.

The economy continues to grow, and we've added 790,000 new jobs since July 2009.

However, it is apparent that there's room for improvement in the way we manage Canadian fisheries. Our government has taken up the challenge by focusing our resources on commercial, recreational, and Aboriginal fisheries.

We will still be diligently protecting the habitat, including the food fish, that support these fisheries, and we will now have greater ability to protect sensitive areas and apply higher penalties to rule-breakers.

Contrary to Mr. MacAulay's claims, the budget bill that contained the changes to the Fisheries Act received a significant amount of scrutiny and debate.

I sat on a sub-committee that reviewed the environmental section of the bill, including the Fisheries Act changes, for the equivalent of more than a month of regularly scheduled meetings.

More to that point, the minister has just launched consultations to receive feedback on our government's new approach to fisheries protection.

Through a variety of roundtables, meetings, and online input we will work with interested parties to ensure that our program effectively supports the sustainability and continued productivity of Canada's fisheries. Our goals are to work with Canadians to create the best policies and regulations to apply these new changes and to partner with groups and individuals across the country to further enhance our aquatic ecosystems.

Mr. MacAulay and I agree that our fisheries are very important to the many thousands who rely on them for their livelihood, and millions more who enjoy them recreationally.

Instead of spending his time writing letters to the editor, I invite him to partner with our government as we make important changes to protect our natural resources for generations to come.

Randy Kamp, MP Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge-Mission