Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Madam Minister, it's a pleasure to see you here before the committee. There are so many things for us to discuss with a $1.6 billion budget responsibility for your department covering fisheries management, habitat protection science, research, search and rescue, coast guard, and we have 10 minutes in which to have that discussion. Nonetheless, we have to try to break this down into a few questions.
We will be sharing the 10 minutes among ourselves.
You raised the issue of PIIFCAF, and I want to acknowledge how pleased the owner-operator fleet is with the way you have gone toward the deadline and the way you have implemented the PIIFCAF program. People are very pleased with the recognition that you and your department have given to the value of the owner-operator fleet and the connection between the ownership of the fishery, the conduct of the fishery, and the communities that benefit from it. I applaud you and your department for that effort.
In that context I want to raise my concern about the other coast, the west coast, and the fact that the independent fisherman is less confident with the way the industry is being managed there. With the ITQ fleet, of course, with the allocations, the cost of fishing is upward of 80% of landings and what's left over for the crew and the skipper is minimal. There is now an effort it appears—people feel there is an effort to push ITQs into the salmon fishery.
Given your support for PIIFCAF on the east coast, I think you would recognize the alarm that many owner-operator fishermen and communities are feeling with this push to ITQs, the disconnect between the ownership and the prosecution of the fishery in that sector. Would you take the same commitment you and your department have shown to the owner-operator and fleet separation policies on the east coast and make sure that is reflected on the west coast as well?