I want to thank you for appearing today.
I'm a westerner. I don't normally sit on this committee, but I read the transcript in preparation for this, and what I observed was that the witnesses who appeared at the committee said it was a normal flow for that time of year.
I also read the letter of agreement, and it very clearly lays out a fish habitat assessment mitigation plan and monitoring plan. And then I went back to the 2004 report from the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development. The commissioner was very critical of the department's ability in terms of the management of information--whether it had access to good information, whether it was gathering information that was appropriate. Any number of issues were raised about the department in 2004.
What I would like to hear from you, specifically, is what steps were taken before this plan was developed in March. I know that you're undergoing a review, but I think I would like to hear, specifically, what it was that was in place before this operation began, given the fact that we know what the water flows look like in the Fraser River. So I wonder if you could comment on that.
The second piece I'd like to hear is about the specific monitoring methods that are in place, because this plan clearly lays out a responsibility for DFO for gravel removal supervision. It's very clear about what actions the department has to take. And I think what I heard you say was that other people pointed this out, rather than the department itself.