Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I want to start by thanking the witnesses for being here. I get the sense that what we are hearing this morning is somewhat similar to what we heard a few months ago, in committee. I will still take the time to ask some questions, though.
I want to pick up on a debate we had in committee on the use of scientific data versus socio-economic factors in decision-making at the various stages of the process set out in the Species at Risk Act. One camp says we should give scientific data more weight, and the other camp says we should give priority to economic considerations.
What I want to know now is whether you have a position on that. Do you have a method in place? What do you base your assessment on when you make a decision?
I get the sense that the situation has always been unclear and that you do not have an established approach. Here and now, can you tell us whether different factors carry a certain weight in the decision-making process? When do socio-economic factors enter into the implementation of SARA?