Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Another saying is that you never allow the facts to get in the way of a good story. The reality is that if Europe does impose a ban, even despite the best efforts of our ambassador or DFO, with pelts a few years ago at $90 and now down to around $30, if the market falls out, it's going to be very difficult to maintain the seal harvest as we know it.
So one of the concerns will be that these sealers and their communities, through no fault of their own, are going to suffer economically because of it. Are there any plans afoot—plan B, I would call it—that if the ban does take place and it has a devastating effect on the seal harvest, DFO or the advice from DFO to government will somehow appropriate some funds to help these folks mitigate their financial losses?
The same question can apply to the west coast. If, indeed, the salmon runs are as poor as they appear, an awful lot of sporting operators and commercial fishermen are going to lose an awful lot of ability to earn some money. Will there be any assistance at all planned for those people in that regard?