Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Congratulations to you on your re-election and to our vice-chairs.
Welcome to our new members on the committee.
Just in reaffirming some of the work items we've been looking at, I would agree that we do need to finish the snow crab recommendations and continue the focus on the aquaculture study. Also, I think it's still important to get out to the west coast to visit. I also agree that we need to be ready for the new Fisheries Act when it is introduced. As well, we'll be rolling into budget 2011 quite soon, so we should be keeping it open for those.
As far as new requests are concerned, I've put two motions in front of the committee for consideration. Maybe I could provide a bit of background information.
One is on Fish Lake, which is associated with a mine project in British Columbia, the Prosperity Mine proposal. Part of that proposal includes the draining of Fish Lake for a tailings pond. I was approached by some people in that area in terms of the fisheries impact. They were looking to come to the committee to present information from their perspective and let it be known what their concerns are. That is one motion that's before the committee for its consideration.
The other is another request from an organization in British Columbia. It's the Sustainable Marine Fisheries and Communities Alliance. They have a focus mainly in the Skeena River in terms of the commercial fishery. They have some particular issues and concerns that relate to their area of focus, but also they have I think some positive management options for consideration and a vision of a way forward of what a commercial fishery might look like. They're very interested in coming to the committee to present that model or that vision.
So I put it out that these two motions be entertained by the committee at the appropriate time for inclusion in the work plan.
Thank you.