Fisheries committee  Yes, it's general. The wild salmon policy, for example, is integrated into how we do our business in integrated fish management programs. What I'm saying is I think it's part of the way we do our business now. That's reflective of the advice Cohen was giving as a result of his report.

Fisheries committee  We have arrangements with the U.S., as you're aware, on transboundary rivers through the Pacific Salmon Treaty process, and we manage jointly with respect to the fisheries. That creates a fairly close contact process for us on any kind of mining projects. Clearly, there are aboriginal, recreational, and commercial fisheries in those rivers, so we're going to look at protection of the habitat in those systems.

Fisheries committee  Not today. I think we can go right into the questions. Thank you.

Fisheries committee  As you correctly pointed out, the spectrum of federal involvement goes from 100% in P.E.I. as a result of a 1928 arrangement, whereby in P.E.I. we look after leases as well as the licensing and control of the operations, through British Columbia where there is a lease by the province and regulation by the federal government, and through to a mix.

Fisheries committee  I'll turn this over to Kevin shortly, but I think those papers were based on a couple of assumptions. First off, when you have a species at risk, there is a requirement under the Species at Risk Act to protect critical habitat. That has not changed with the changes to the Fisheries Act.

Fisheries committee  Again, I think the decision was made to separate it, to continue our challenge, and not have it subject to being negotiated off the table as a result of CETA.

Fisheries committee  I think you have to look at it from both sides of that question. If you put it on the table as a make-or-break issue, what would happen? Would we forgo all those millions of dollars or not? By keeping it separate, it allows us to continue our challenge, that process, without having it subject to the CETA, subject to the arrangement, or subject to having everybody looking at it from the total and putting on that equation.

Fisheries committee  It's not being spent on managing the fishery; it's being spent on a provincial jurisdiction. That's why we are not involved in it. That was done between the federal government and the province. Again, if you wanted to call a provincial witness, they might have that information.

Fisheries committee  That's correct.

Fisheries committee  I would point out that fish aren't sacrificed in CETA. Fish will, in fact, be a big beneficiary as a result of the removal of very high tariffs on a number of products. They are not being sacrificed in CETA, but will be a winner as a result of CETA. Having said that, I was not present at or privy to any discussions that took place between the Province of Newfoundland, which was a part of the process, and the federal government in terms of what went behind the decision of the province to remove the minimal processing.

Fisheries committee  I have no idea what the discussions were. We were not part of those discussions. We have no jurisdiction in the processing area. We're not privy to whatever discussions led to that arrangement.

Fisheries committee  Clearly, we're up against some pretty well-funded campaigns, between the IFAW and the HSUS.

Fisheries committee  Namibia has a seal hunt as well. I don't know if they've just chosen us. They've ignored Greenland, which isn't insubstantial. It's a big hunt there too. They've ignored that one. That hunt has been exempted from the ban even though it can get very large. The campaign has chosen Canada because we're the best and biggest target.

Fisheries committee  Again, as you're aware, we are focused on our core. Our core is management of the fisheries in a sustainable way. We are pleased to provide that assurance to a certifying body so they can be eco-certified, etc. We did get engaged in the Atlantic lobster industry process. That was focused on moving, in partnership with the industry and with the provinces, to further enhance the sustainability of lobsters.

Fisheries committee  We're confident that we can maintain our controls. If there were to be a huge spike in the value of various species, that would create more pressure. The more valuable it is, the more temptation there is to poach. Hopefully, we're going to see some increase in value, but not enough, I don't think, that would cause us concerns relevant to enforcement.