Thank you very much.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I want to welcome my neighbour Ruth Inniss, and Earle McCurdy and Ed Frenette, who are only too well aware of the many problems in the lobster fishery.
There are many questions to ask, but I would like to ask you, Ed, on the rationalization. Of course I have a motion before the House of Commons. I truly believe it has to be eastern-Canada-wide, Quebec and the rest of eastern Canada. And I try not to be political, because you do better if you're not political. I don't want to offend my good friends across the table, but I think rationalization and licence rationalization is much more of a federal responsibility.
I don't know what's going to be announced—and there was a problem in the provincial legislature, whatever happened, whether politics was being played or not—but we're playing with lives here. We're playing with people surviving and being able to stay in the province. If we're not successful in dealing with this, in my opinion, we won't have any rural community in my district and on the south shore of Prince Edward Island. But, again, I stress it should be for all of eastern Canada.
I would like your opinion, Mr. Frenette, on the rationalization, and also address if we involve the province, if we involve the industry, keeping in mind that example. I think in Pinette one fisherman took in 14 lobsters one day. I don't know where they're going to find funds or anything else to be involved in a rationalization.
And I also want you to elaborate on what you think will take place if employment insurance is not adjusted. It's an insurance program that can be a pilot project or whatever. This is an emergency. This is a crisis in the fishery. What will happen to not only the fishermen and the people who are involved in the industry, but to our communities and everything else? I can see a disaster coming.