Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Good day, Ms. Morton.
Further to a recent decision by the Supreme Court of British Columbia, a new system is slated to be put in place by December 2010 to manage the aquaculture industry. I will ask my questions in quick succession, as I only have five minutes, which isn't much time.
Firstly, in your opinion, is the federal government ready for this deadline? Secondly, did you take part in the consultations leading up to the new federal aquaculture regulations? Finally, did the federal government have a choice other than to move forward with this file? For example, could something else have altered the federal government's decision to move forward? You can respond.