Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc was on the hook in question period today with a reel of questions about his expropriation of a lucrative Arctic surf clam licence earlier this year and his decision to award it to the Five Nations Clam Co. — a newly created partnership with no boats capable of handling the clam fishery.

It’s the first time he’s been in the House of Commons since it came to light that he has a family connection to the winning bid. On Friday, there was also word the federal ethics watchdog is investigating his actions related to the licence.

iPolitics confirmed two weeks ago that Five Nations was initially led by Gilles Thériault, who is the first cousin of LeBlanc’s wife, Jolène Richard. LeBlanc has denied that connection played any role in the process and today repeated that claim.

Conservative MP Peter Kent kicked off the questions this afternoon, noting the contract was awarded to a company without a boat.

“Will the prime minister do the right thing and remove this minister from the file and restart the process,” he asked, given the family and Liberal ties to the deal.

The prime minister didn’t speak, but LeBlanc said he’s happy to work with the commissioner and answer any questions he may have.

“My honourable friend spoke about family ties. It’s important that he understand that Mr. Thériault is one of my wife’s 60 first cousins,” he said to laughter, including from Justin Trudeau.

“He is an employee of the largest Mi’kmaq First Nation in New Brunswick and has been for over 15 years. Chief Sock has publicly said that Mr. Thériault was not involved in any way in preparing the submission and he will not be benefiting in any way what so ever. This was about improving access for Indigenous communities and we’re proud of that decision.”

The Five Nations Clam Co. spoke out about Thériault’s role two weeks ago. In a statement to iPolitics, Chief Aaron Sock of the Elsipogtog First Nation, who is now the president of the corporation, took issue with how Thériault’s role has been portrayed.

“I want to make it clear when I state that Gilles Thériault has no financial interest in this venture and is simply carrying out tasks I have assigned in his capacity as General Manager of McGraw Seafood, a corporation owned by the Elsipogtog First Nation,” Sock said. With more than 40 years experience as a consultant and negotiator, he said Thériault is well known to anyone who knows the fisheries business in Atlantic Canada. “He has been employed with us for well over 15 years and (is) a great friend to the community.” Given the potential positive economic impacts that were at stake and a belief “the government was truly serious about reconciliation,” Sock said Five Nations hired a third party “who was not Gilles Thériault, to make our case and write our proposal.” However, in a phone interview with iPolitics a day earlier, when Sock explained Thériault had been at the helm, but was no longer, he said: “Gilles was just helping me out in getting some consultants together. He helped me put together a proposal … He helps us out with a lot of things in terms of connecting consultants …” Five Nations’ winning proposal is now among the documents filed with the Federal Court in the wake of a request for a judicial review of the decision filed by the Miawpukek First Nation of Newfoundland, which is among the groups that has called for the licence to be revoked given the questions swirling around how it was awarded. “Initially the Five Nations Clam Company will be headed by Gilles Thériault, the current manager of the Elsipogtog First Nation-owned McGraw Seafood fish processing plant in Northern New Brunswick. Gilles is a widely respected expert with over 30 years experience in fisheries-related consulting, negotiations, etc. He has substantial experience working with First Nations fisheries and is currently mentoring a young leader from Elsipogtog First Nation to take over manager of McGraw Seafood. The same approach will be taken with the Five Nations Clam Company.” Five Nations has partnered with Premium Seafoods of Nova Scotia, run by Edgar Samson, the brother of Liberal MP Darrell Samson. Former Liberal MP Todd Russell is the president of NunatuKavut, which is also now a partner. This all began in September when LeBlanc announced a new license for the surf clam fishery, with 25 per cent of the quota allocated to the new entrant. He planned to expropriate the quota from Clearwater Seafoods, which had been the only company in the $100-million surf clam business and held all licenses, processing them at a plant in Grand Bank, Newfoundland. Fisheries and Oceans set out essential criteria for groups applying for the licence, noting “priority will be given to proposals received from an aggregate of multiple communities who can demonstrate enhanced collective capacity to manage this fishery…” Critics say those criteria weren’t met in awarding the licence. NDP MP Charlie Angus said the situation stinks and broke out a boatload of fishing analogies to demand LeBlanc come clean.

“Mr. Speaker, elected office isn’t all that complicated – we’re there to put the interests of the public first. But the Liberals treat it like an exclusive clam bar for their pals and their friends,” he said.

“Let’s look at the investigation into the minister for fisheries and oceans, who has his hook in a deal that smells fishier than, I don’t know, a Liberal at low tide. Now, I’ve seen a lot of political red herrings over the years, I’m asking the minister to stop floundering around like some kind of fish in a suit and come clean about that fishy surf clam quota deal, please.”

That earned him a standing ovation from members on the Conservative benches, who have been repeatedly pressing the issue in question period.

“You would have thought Brian Tobin or John Crosbie were back in the House,” an amused LeBlanc responded, before defending his decision once again as a “powerful opportunity” to increase Indigenous participation in the fishery.