Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Welcome to the committee, Minister. Thank you for coming in front of us and bringing your team. I appreciate your presence and your time here.
The government is planning to do away with the fleet separation and owner-operator policy, and in Atlantic Canada the independent fleet sector is the largest private sector employer. It's made up of 10,616 individual licence-holders. The sector creates an estimated additional 20,000 jobs for crew members. There are also indirect jobs in boat construction, gear supply, and maintenance. There are about 1,300 coastal communities that house these independent fishing enterprises. I want to note, too, that we've introduced a motion on the subject, so this committee will be talking about that in short order.
I'm wondering if the government has done any analysis of the potential impact of the elimination of this policy on independent fishers and coastal communities.