Fisheries committee  Good. That's short. Be careful; it's a big problem. We know. I'm from Prince Edward Island, and we're involved in this. It's a problem that was given to us by somebody. Nobody wants to take the blame, but it's very difficult to get the solution. In your presentation you mentioned the cost of repairing wharves.

Fisheries committee  I will likely be sharing my time, but thank you very much. It's a pleasure to be here. My first question would be slightly off the subject probably, but you talked about the mussel fishery. Are there any problems with invasive species?

Fisheries committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Darrell, as you know, you and the harbour authority were pushing for this, as I was, for a long time. You can see that if you work together and keep pressure on them, finally it can make something happen. It just shows that when you put the pressure on the government and on us, it can happen.

Fisheries committee  So is Mr. Lesperance.

Fisheries committee  But along with that is the very serious safety issue, of course. This was taken in beautiful weather, but what happens when there's a gale on, a storm? What happens when you're out at sea and you have no other choice? That's why we want people like you here. And we feel that this type of funding would eliminate that.

Fisheries committee  Very good. I'm going to let my colleagues ask a few questions.

Fisheries committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Mr. Steele, it's a pleasure to be with you today. We've done a number of things over the years. And Mr. Lesperance and Mr. Miller, it's.... What we're trying to do here is convince government how important, number one, your wharves and many other wharves across this province are to the economy of Prince Edward Island--what they mean to communities, what happens if we don't have them, what happens if they're consolidated, what happens if the fishery is....

Fisheries committee  You get it all.

Fisheries committee  But in the end, that saved dollars, would you say?

Fisheries committee  Norman, you're not saying the engineers could be wrong?

Fisheries committee  I thank you. I might want to pass you on to the Newfoundlanders to see what they can do with it.

Fisheries committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Norman, it's good to hear from you. I must admit that I've heard you a few times. And that's good; you understand what's going on and you understand what's needed in the fishery. I also certainly can feel for you when you're asking not to beg.

Fisheries committee  So what you're telling me is that in your volunteer organization, you signed notes yourselves in order to make sure the harbour stayed.

Fisheries committee  Thank you very much.

Fisheries committee  I'm certainly pleased to have you here, because you've been involved in the fisheries all your lives and you understand what it's all about; you understand what is at stake and what you put into it. You mentioned a number of things, but in ten years' time you've mentioned what you might see if things are not done appropriately.