Thank you, Minister Hearn.
Before we start, I would like to thank you and your department for appearing here today. Thank you for your planned financial and human resources updates for 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009.
I would also like to express our appreciation for the very short turnaround on our request of November 21 and the provision from your department of information for the detailed breakdown of funding for the national capital region, national programs, details on DFO's involvement in the environmental assessment and the construction of the bridge at Rivière-des-Prairies, and a detailed description of how science is funded, the role of science management committee, and the chart that DFO officials used during the hearing, which showed budget increases for the department from 1996 onward. That's a seven-day turnaround on that information, and it was needed by the committee to pursue this hearing today. We appreciate your prompt reply.
We'll go to our first questioner, Mr. Cuzner.