There are growing calls for the federal Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillier to be removed from her role.
The latest comes from the Conservative MP representing the riding of New Brunswick Southwest.
John Williamson accused the minister of failing to protect the region’s lobster fishery.
“In my riding, there are no DFO enforcement officers along the Canada-U.S. border,” Williamson said in the House of Commons on Monday.
“Poachers from Maine are illegally fishing lobsters in our waters. They are stealing Canada’s natural resources.”
His comments came days after dozens of lobster fishers held a peaceful protest in Saint Andrews.
The fishers said they are fed up with continued mismanagement of the industry and failure to address critical issues.
“Will she do her job, or will the prime minister fire her?” Williamson said of Lebouthillier.
In response, the minister said the claim that no enforcement is happening is “utterly false and frankly irresponsible.”
Lebouthillier said enforcement efforts are taking place, adding that additional staff and resources are being deployed as needed.
In a statement in August, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans confirmed some officers are still refusing to work in certain conditions, adding
DFO said they respect that right and are investigating all reports of unsafe working environments, adding they are making every effort to minimize operational impacts.
The federal department said enforcement is not always visible and it may not always look the way people want or expect it to. They add they are continuing to make arrests and seize vessels and traps.
