Fisheries committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Welcome. You've indicated that there are over 2,000 people involved in the fishery, and about three-quarters of them are first nations. Is that correct?

Fisheries committee  You mentioned something about rules that are going to be put in place. I'd like you to elaborate a little more on the rules and the rule problem you have, both federal and provincial. Not that we can do much about the provincial rules, but we'd like to have an overview of the problems with the new rules.

Fisheries committee  The concern is that this net is a quarter of a mile long and approximately a football field wide, and it'll catch herring. The fact is, it'll catch everything else in the sea too, and there will be massive destruction to the fishery in the area. That's the concern the fishermen have brought to me, and that's the concern I want to bring to you, Mr.

Fisheries committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Welcome, Mr. Minister, and your great support staff. Of course, small craft harbours is a major issue in my district, and there are always a lot of problems. Some of the complaints are about the patch-up work done, that if the money had been put toward general maintenance of the wharf, the end result would be a lot better.

Fisheries committee  There's no fear that that bill could be brought before the House tomorrow. Can we be assured of that?

Fisheries committee  You mentioned that they're going to ACOA for funding. Would this not be a fisheries responsibility? Why is it ACOA funding that would be used in this situation?

Fisheries committee  Okay. I'll pass on to Geoff.

Fisheries committee  Thank you very much. I see there's just under $20 million in small craft harbours. You're no doubt aware that there was a motion that was supported by all the House for $35 million. I wonder if you could give us somewhat of an understanding as to what's been done with Treasury Board in order to acquire that $15 million.

Fisheries committee  Can we get that $130 million?

Fisheries committee  Thank you very much. Again, I want to thank you very much for coming on very short notice for a half an hour that ended up being two hours, which is wonderful; that's what happens around here. There are things that did happen that are good, but what I'm concerned about...and of course with North Lake, you're there, and you're hard to deal with, and you need all the money, so that creates....

Fisheries committee  The small craft harbours budget has not increased.

Fisheries committee  Thank you very much. I appreciate that. I do understand the need for breakwaters. Sheila, thank you for coming. You talk about the cost. You've been dealing with wharves and repairs—you've been after me most of my political life—so you understand what happened when the breakwater was not fixed at the black wall in Savage Harbour.

Fisheries committee  Sheila, all the people here might not understand what that means.

Fisheries committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. To the presenters, thank you. I think it's excellent to have somebody come to this committee who sits there every day and deals with the problems that you deal with all the time and who has a basic understanding of what's needed. Mr. Poirier, you mentioned, if I understood correctly, that there's a great need for breakwater construction in Îles-de-la-Madeleine.

Fisheries committee  Slower.