Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, very much for your presentations.
This is now my third trip to the Gaspé. The first one was with your member of Parliament, Mr. Bernier, and the other time was when, because we liked it so much, my family drove around the Gaspé. Even though I come from Nova Scotia, and we like to think that the Cape Breton Highlands is the number one drive in Canada, the drive around the Gaspésie is just as beautiful, I tell you. Now I'm on my third time.
In the years that I've been a member of Parliament, I've always found that government is always looking for partners to do business with, to divest certain facilities to, either provincial governments or regional governments or private interests.
I must say, Mr. Minville and Mr. Scantland, your presentations here really help us a lot. In fact, you do a lot of our work right here by doing this.
If I were in the federal government, this is something I would look at very positively. This is something our committee will take back, and we will encourage the government--not just DFO but other departments--to look at something like this, which actually, in the end, will save taxpayers money and develop the economy in this regard.
If I were a fisherman in the Gaspé area, I'd be very proud of my municipal representation here today. This is the first time I've seen this many councillors and mayors and officials here. It obviously is a very, very important issue for you, so congratulations on that, and keep up the great work.
How many fishermen and their families are we talking about when it comes to small craft harbours in this particular region? Do you have a ballpark figure?