Fisheries committee  In fact 2007 will be much more challenging than last year as well, but 2008-09 will be more challenging than 2007. I'll ask Mr. Bevan to speak about the plans for this year and the continuation of our go-forward for Pacific fisheries reform.

Fisheries committee  Thanks very much for the question. In terms of the reduction, I'll ask Mr. Hegge to respond, perhaps more accurately. But it reflects a change from the ocean action plan phase one funding, which was about $14 million a year, to the announcement in the budget of a number of healt

Fisheries committee  Thank you. We share your concerns. Fortunately, the price of shrimps went up this year. From what I understand, our fees are 3¢ cents a pound. Previously, in Quebec, the price was of shrimp was 38¢ a pound; it is now 49¢. In Newfoundland, apparently the price ranges between 50¢ a

Fisheries committee  Thanks very much, Mr. Chair. I know the minister would want me to express his heartfelt thanks to the committee for the great work that the committee has done in relation to the seal hunt. He would agree with everything Mr. Stoffer just said, and I know he looks forward to the

Fisheries committee  I think the minister would heartily endorse that as well. In fact, I was at a meeting at which he met with the Premier of Nunavut, who went on the last trip with Ambassador Sullivan, and certainly the presence of the Premier and folks from Nunavut was really important in bringing

Fisheries committee  The review doesn't take very long but finalizing the results can take two to three years, yes. Unfortunately, that is the case.

Fisheries committee  I would like to say that it will, but to be honest, the reality is that this will take two to three years. I'll call on Mr. Hegge to explain why. There is new legislation and that makes a complex situation even more complex.

Fisheries committee  I don't think so. In 2003 there was some discussion of this, because I came back to the department in 2003, and then the ice cleared. As you said, the ice is still there, and we'll see what happens in the next week or two.

Fisheries committee  The study is part of a broader Treasury Board initiative, and it happens to be playing out coincidental with the minister going to that neck of the woods and hearing from a variety of stakeholders in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. I think the debate within the industry there isn't di

Fisheries committee  It's a crown corporation. This has to be looked at, but as the minister mentioned a week or two ago in the media, this is about figuring out how to make the FFMC the most effective organization it can be. He doesn't have an agenda here at all, and it really is responding to what

Fisheries committee  Maybe a couple of quick comments. It might be useful for the committee, George, if in 15 seconds you want to outline the situation on the northeast coast now and the number of vessels still....

Fisheries committee  We still have five of our vessels there. In terms of the question on EI, I think the honourable member has discussed this with the minister as well. Certainly the minister has instructed us to work with other involved departments on this, and we are doing a fair amount of leg w

Fisheries committee  To be clear, Mr. Chairman, our role in this is really related to our role around habitat protection. On our engagement or our involvement in this, the committee may recollect that last year there was a problem with a structure that was put in place on the Fraser River. It was a

Fisheries committee  Mr. Chair, I'll ask Mr. Bevan or Dr. Wendy Watson-Wright to augment this, and I think we'll probably have to come back with details on paper to the committee. I was in the department as the associate deputy minister when.... It wasn't a direct relationship with the Pacific Salmo

Fisheries committee  Absolutely. I think to be accurate, we'd probably be better.... In fact, we could bring it next week. For sure, we'll bring it next week.