Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to the witnesses.
This first question is directed to Mr. Irvine and Mr. Mallet.
Folks, I'm a member of Parliament from London, Ontario, in southwestern Ontario, which for the purposes of our meeting here today is another way of saying that I know very little about fish and I know very little about lobster, but that is not to say at all that I do not care about your sector. I think all of you have made a very persuasive case here today. I think Canada is strengthened when our fishers are doing well, and obviously it's a difficult time right now.
Could you speak to me in general terms and, I suppose, speak to the country as well, about the importance of supporting fishers right now? When we hear about fishers we think about the Maritimes, about Atlantic Canada, about the B.C. coast, but I think all Canadians ought to get behind the idea of supporting our fishers.
Could you make that general argument? How would you put this to Canadians outside of your regions about the need for the federal government to continue to provide supports?