Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I also want to thank all of you for your important leadership in advocating for fishers, for fish harvesters, processors, all those who rely on seafood from coast to coast to coast. Your testimony is very important. Your leadership is very important.
I want to start on the west coast. We know that the government—well, right across our country—has not come up with any relief in its emergency relief package for independent fishers. It came up with some funding for processors, which certainly was important for workers' protections. We know that on the west coast fishers are still reeling from the worst commercial salmon season in recorded history, and they were still waiting for help long before COVID hit.
Mr. McIsaac, can you talk about the economic importance of the industry to coastal communities, and the support the industry provides as an economic driver for coastal communities?