Thank you, Mr. Chair.
It was reported in the House of Commons by the minister of unemployment that an income support program was being developed and would be announced very soon for fishers who were affected by severe ice conditions on the northeast coast of Newfoundland, the Northern Peninsula, and Labrador in particular. The minister of unemployment said they were collaborating with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans on this program, and that the support of that department was vital to this.
I've raised the matter several times in the House of Commons, and the government itself has always said: talk to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans; they're the stumbling block here.
What can you report to us, Deputy Minister, about the status of those discussions between Service Canada or HRSDC and Fisheries and Oceans? Was the minister, when she made that commitment on behalf of the government, reporting correctly to Parliament what the circumstances were? And what's the role that Fisheries and Oceans can play?
But most importantly, to support our sealers—because that's who these fishermen are who are affected by these conditions—in getting some income support quickly, what can you tell us about that particular income support program?