Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Poirier, it's good to see you. Thank you for coming. I think you and I agree: it's a disastrous situation where I come from, and a major problem, I guess, where you come from.
You would think that some people involved in large industry would say “starve the losers”. Well, there's no problem starving the losers in the fishing industry: they are starving, and there's going to be a major problem if we don't do something.
I also agree that these are family operations, where you come from and where I come from in Prince Edward Island. If something is not done, the family operation is gone and the community is gone. That's exactly where we are.
You were talking about levels of support. I would like you to elaborate, though without making it too long, on what measures could be put in place. It's okay, I believe, to put funding into exploring markets, and it's needed to make sure we get a better market for lobster. But with the major problem in financing that we have right now, we have to do something immediately. I think you indicated that this would be level one of your three support programs. I'd like you to elaborate a bit more on that.
Also, I would like your recommendation concerning low catches. Where I come from in particular, there's a great need for a buy-out program. Some are indicating that fishermen need to be part of the buy-out program. Well, in our area it's a major expense to get into the fishery and a major job to survive at this time, so I have great difficulty accepting that type of proposal.
I'd like you to elaborate on that, starting with the level of support to deal with the family operation and what will happen, and then what needs to be done, if you get time, with support for more exporting and that type of thing.