Again, sovereignty is the big one. Like I said, we are a coastal state. We have three coasts, and what we do on one will have ramifications on the others. Right now, sovereignty in the Arctic, for example, is a big deal. I know the Prime Minister has made a statement on it, saying that it's important, but you can't go up in the Arctic and make a splash and then have language in conventions that opens up a door--ever so slightly, perhaps, ever so slightly, but it is open.
Again, maybe this government knows the difference of it or whatever, but for governments to come, I say.... Do you know what I mean? If there's any risk at all and you're talking about perception internationally, they're looking, and they're catching on every word. We need strength at our tables, at NAFO tables and at our trade tables. As a nation we're strong in resources, but we have to be strong in backbone too. We have to make sure that the world knows our resources are valuable, and for those that fall within our grasp, we should be managing them. In our province especially, we depend so much on it.
We've been down a tough, tough road, long before my time. Some of you here know that toughness that comes with overfishing and a resource that's just going out with no regard whatsoever. So again, as a plea, we ask you to make sure that if this is a ratification process, you give everyone a chance to sit at a table like this, or in Parliament, or whatever, and please listen. Don't jumble it up with things that are going to cloud the issue. There is an issue here. For us, it was custodial management. Now, it is conventions that we feel will weaken our position.
It's up to the government, I guess, to make sure that you clearly state where you're going and what you're doing. I say the best place for that is on the floor of Parliament.