Thank you, Mr. McGuinness, for your presentation.
Coming from St. John's South—Mount Pearl in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, I can tell you, sir, that the overwhelming response from all sectors of our fishing industry is positive to this deal. When it comes to processors and the processing association, when it comes to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, and when it comes to the union, the Fish, Food and Allied Workers union, which represents plant workers, fishermen, and trawlermen, everyone is in agreement that this is seen as a positive, as a good deal.
Also, as a former journalist myself, I covered fisheries for a lot of years and I know first-hand the impact of high tariffs on our industries, like shrimp.
That said, there are some questions that are outstanding.
In Newfoundland and Labrador the province is being compensated to the tune of $280 million from the federal Government of Canada, and $120 million from the province—the province is kicking in money as well—for giving up minimum processing requirements that we have had in Newfoundland and Labrador for a dog's age.
From the perspective of the association representing processors across Canada, from your perspective, sir, what do you see as the impact of Newfoundland and Labrador lifting minimum processing requirements?