The Environment  Mr. Speaker, I thank the member. It is never a chore to address questions that come from that member. I want to say a couple of things. More work needs to be done. We realize that. Also, we are now using the information, and I think this is important, gathered under the fund to inform our actions for the future, including the development of regulatory tools, policies, and a ghost gear action plan.

The Environment  Mr. Speaker, good morning and happy birthday. I have gotten to see, first-hand, the member's work on behalf of his constituents. They are very lucky to have him, in my opinion. Canada is a proud maritime nation that relies on its oceans as a source of food, jobs, energy, raw materials, maritime trade, tourism and recreation.

Cape Breton Chorale  Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to congratulate members of the Cape Breton Chorale, who are celebrating 50 years of music across the globe. In that time, the chorale has given over 200 performances at home and overseas in places like England, Wales, Ireland, and many more.

Indigenous Affairs  Mr. Speaker, continuing on the theme of indigenous-led project development, I would like to highlight some of the many exciting projects that are taking place across this country. In Ontario, the Six Nations is developing one of the largest battery storage projects, called Oneida Energy Storage.

Indigenous Affairs  Mr. Speaker, I will note his original question with regard to working with first nations on accessing and developing economic opportunities in the resource and energy sector, addressing the systemic barriers that have excluded indigenous peoples, including first nations, from prosperity and decision-making for too long, must be addressed.

Democratic Institutions  Mr. Speaker, we have all been closely following the proceedings of the public inquiry into foreign interference in Canada's democratic institutions. As members of the House will recall, in fact, our government convened the inquiry with the support of every party leader in this very House, and we all recognize how important it is to maintain the integrity of our democratic institutions.

Democratic Institutions  Mr. Speaker, I want to reiterate the seriousness with which the government is addressing the threat of foreign interference. We have great confidence in the work of the government agencies and departments charged with protecting our democratic institutions. Their intelligence and the information they collect and share have enabled us to have a good understanding of the challenges foreign interference poses to Canadians.

Fisheries and Oceans  Mr. Speaker, ship recycling is a complex multinational industry. It has been a growing area of focus for the International Marine Organization, which has been working over the course of the last two decades to support safe and environmentally sound ship recycling worldwide. Canada maintains some of the strongest rules for global ship recycling.

Fisheries and Oceans  Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada recognizes that safe recycling processes are vital to ensure the careful and secure handling of environmental hazardous substances such as asbestos, heavy metals, hydrocarbons and ozone-depleting substances. Canada aims to ensure that ships are recycled safely at the end of their operational lives without posing unnecessary risks to human health and the environment.

Fisheries and Oceans  Mr. Speaker, just a couple of weeks ago, I was in B.C. talking to a lot of first nation communities on a whole host of topics that are important to them and to their communities. I know that this one is equally important in terms of recreational fishing from a food and ceremonial perspective, cultural perspective and an economic perspective.

Industries in Atlantic Canada  Mr. Speaker, while lobster is Canada's most valuable seafood export, the industry is more than just numbers. It is about people: hard-working men and women who brave the seas to provide for their families and support their communities. Atlantic Canadians understand the importance of supporting the sector and promoting it on the world stage.

Storm in Cape Breton  Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today as my riding of Cape Breton—Canso recovers from one of the heaviest snowfalls in recorded history. I remain very concerned for those in my riding who still require assistance, in particular, our seniors and other populations in need. I want to be clear on this: The snowfall is an ongoing challenge for Cape Breton and northeastern Nova Scotia, and our government is acting on it.

Cape Breton—Canso  Madam Speaker, as we bring 2023 to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to wish my colleagues, constituents and, indeed, all Canadians a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Looking back on how we have been finishing the year, I am delighted to share that, in the last two months alone, our government has invested over $155 million in my riding of Cape Breton—Canso.

Glace Bay Christmas Parade  Mr. Speaker, despite some travel disruptions, I was delighted to make it back home last weekend for Glace Bay's annual Christmas parade. It was a wonderful experience to see my constituents spreading holiday cheer as we indulged in the Christmas spirit all across my riding of Cape Breton—Canso.

Canadian Coast Guard  Mr. Speaker, ensuring the health and safety of Canadians at sea is a top priority for our government. The Coast Guard is working around the clock to modernize and replace the radio detection system with a more robust and accurate network. While this work continues, there are a wide variety of other systems in place, including a radar installation and on-board ship detection finding system on Coast Guard vessels.