Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Madam Minister, congratulations not only on your election but on your selection as fisheries minister. You're now the sixth minister I get a chance to question. I see David Bevan here. It's good to have some continuity here. I have many questions to ask you, but the chair will cut me off on a lot.
First of all, congratulations. It's not an easy task that you have. It's very difficult with all the various wheels in your department.
There are several issues. If possible later on, I'd like you to set up a meeting on the Pacific Salmon Treaty. We were advised during last year that we would have a full and open debate in the House of Commons on the treaty before it was signed. Unfortunately, due to timing and the election, that wasn't possible, so I'd like to be able to do that.
Regarding the coast guard, page 10 of the estimates shows forecast spending for 2007-08 at $739.5 million. Then it increases, but in 2010-11 it goes way down to $698 million. That's a loss of $41 million to the coast guard. As my colleague the Liberal counterpart suggested, we've been asking successive governments for years for the midshore vessels, and we keep getting disappointed. Yes, we appreciate the small amount for the smaller vessels. We appreciate the fact that it will assist some of the yards. But the reality is that $22 billion was required for all of shipbuilding, not just for the coast guard but for naval vessels as well. So in the planned spending for the coast guard, shown on page 10, why is there a reduction? That's my first question.
Second, as you may be aware, the government is planning to have the British Columbia Pacific north coast integrated management area host the PNCIMA forum in March. Various groups are concerned that there may not be adequate funding to host that event and get it off the ground properly. I'm just wondering if indeed the department will fund it adequately to ensure that the process already set will carry through.
I have two other quick questions for you.
The Supreme Court of British Columbia's decision on aquaculture the other day is going to have far-reaching effects if this thing stands, not just in B.C. but across the country. I know you have to have time to study these things, so I'd like your comments on that.
Last—although there are many more, of course—the report on the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation of Winnipeg was supposed to be ready. I'm wondering if it's possible to have that report and what the conclusions of the department would be on that report.
Thank you, Minister. I have more, but I'll be cut off, and apparently you have to leave. Again, congratulations on your post.