I can try to answer your question. In most cases, when a port has little or no activity, the department's mandate is really to provide services to support the commercial fishery. In some cases, there are social considerations involved in the closing down of a wharf. Most of the time, fishermen are offered options to relocate to places where there is an acceptable level of service and where they can continue their commercial fishing activities in an efficient manner. This is how it works. We always work with the communities. We also try to optimize the essential facilities, that is to centralize most of the fishers in order to give them the best possible service. It is much more economical for the department to function in this way. At the same time, in some cases we also have to take into account social considerations or matters of community interest. Each case is different. Each one needs to be looked at individually.
On May 31st, 2007. See this statement in context.