Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I want to pick up on the aquatic species issue raised by the chair, Mr. Bezan. I think it is a very interesting area that would be worthy of an in-depth discussion. I would like to compare the Species at Risk Act and the Fisheries Act. As everyone knows, the Fisheries Act predates SARA. Section 35 of the Fisheries Act deals with the protection of fish habitat, and section 36 talks about the deposit of deleterious substances.
I would like to hear your interpretation of the December 7, 2010 ruling on protection statements. Do you think that, according to that decision, a protection statement must apply to aquatic species if the conditions are similar to those set out in SARA?
My question, therefore, is for the Environment Canada officials.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans issued a protection statement on killer whales in September 2008. Mr. Moffet, referring the question to Mr. Stringer suggests that the federal government is of the opinion that, in light of the December 7, 2010 ruling, if DFO establishes protection statement conditions equivalent to those set out in SARA, the Fisheries Act applies.
Basically, I want to hear your opinion on that, because it covers quite a significant portion of the species requiring protection.