Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Minister, thank you for appearing before us today to provide some answers to our questions on the fisheries and oceans file.
Minister, in your opening remarks you mentioned the potential impact on the environment and wild species from aquaculture. You also mentioned that you saw no reason why Canada couldn't exceed many of its global competitors.
On those two points, I'd like to add that I think there has been proof on both coasts of the impact of aquaculture on the ocean ecosystem, and specifically on wild salmon. Certainly on the west coast, which I am most familiar with, the scientific research has shown there have been impacts on the wild salmon from farm sea lice.
While the farms do provide jobs on both coasts, there is also a real danger of losing jobs in other industries from this impact. I'm glad to hear the department has looked at moving to closed containment, but I'm just wondering if you can comment about when you see the industry moving to closed containment.