The Qikiqtani Inuit Association expresses deep disappointment with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s intention to reissue fishing licenses to non-Inuit entities in Nunavut’s coastal areas. This decision follows a federal court judge’s ruling that the initial allocation by Ottawa was deemed unreasonable.
The DFO announced this proposal based on its initial analysis, without disclosing the specifics of the assessment. In 2021, then DFO minister Bernadette Jordan reassigned fishing licenses to a coalition comprising seven Mi’kmaq First Nations as part of Clearwater Foods’ sale to FNC Quota, sparking a legal challenge from Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) and the Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA).
The disagreement stemmed from the potential for Nunavut Inuit to acquire these licenses, primarily for Greenland halibut (turbot) and shrimp harvesting. However, Minister Jordan transferred the licenses to the Mi’kmaq coalition, which acquired a 50% stake in Clearwater Foods, a major fishing enterprise in Atlantic Canada.
NTI and QIA argued that the minister overlooked provisions of Article 15 of the Nunavut Agreement, which call for special consideration in granting commercial fishing licenses based on community adjacency and economic reliance. The aim is to ensure that local Nunavut communities benefit from regional resources.
In a ruling in April 2024, Federal Court Justice Paul Favel criticized Minister Jordan’s 2021 decision for failing to address the unique considerations of Nunavut. DFO did not provide an interview to CBC News but stated in a press release that the license review process adheres to transparency and fairness while taking the Nunavut Agreement into account.
Clearwater Seafoods defended the license transfer as a positive step towards economic reconciliation, emphasizing the importance of the Mi’kmaq’s investment in the Canadian fishing industry. QIA contended that DFO’s recent recommendations uphold the status quo, disadvantaging Nunavut’s economy and Inuit prosperity for future generations.
According to a 2023 document released by QIA, the fishing industry in Nunavut is described as an underdeveloped sector of the local economy. The organization criticized the federal government for allegedly failing to equitably distribute commercial fishing licenses in Nunavut’s nearby waters as mandated by the Nunavut Agreement, resulting in Nunavut interests holding only about 52% of the quota compared to other regions like British Columbia and Newfoundland.
QIA estimated that between 1993 and 2022, Nunavut Inuit missed out on approximately $1 billion in economic benefits. While the review process is ongoing, the affected fishing licenses under the name FNC Quota remain valid and operational until the minister’s final decision.
Stakeholders have until January 9 to respond to DFO’s initial analysis before the department presents its final recommendation to the minister.