It's a great question.
We are very encouraged by the aquatic invasive regulatory proposal under the Fisheries Act. It will provide an enabling framework for the provinces to consider in terms of undertaking management action. It provides a very clear legal framework that will empower the provinces for the first time to legally control and eradicate species once they become established. So there are some very positive things happening in that regard.
We don't yet have a formal policy position, as a province, on any of the proposed changes under the Fisheries Act in terms of a comprehensive suite of changes that are taking place. We understand that the changes to the legislation are one component, but it will be really important for us to understand the policies and the strategies that derive out of the legislative changes in order for us to assess what the implication to the province might be.
We do see a continued role for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in our inland waters. We feel that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has a very clear role to play in coordinating and conducting some of the research monitoring activities. We rely very much on the Department of Fisheries and Oceans centre for expertise and risk assessments in Burlington. We are a very small organization in and of ourselves, and we cannot do the kind of work that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans does in that regard.
With respect to other federal government activities, if you're asking about the types of things that we would like to see the federal government continue to focus on, clearly we would ask that you maintain vigilance with the ballast water regulations and their implementation. Again, that's just not something our ministry would have the capacity or the resources to take on in the event that there were significant changes proposed.
We are very encouraged by some of the things that are happening. We clearly need more information about some of the other legislative changes that are proposed to understand the implications to Ontario.
Again, just in summary, we would ask that you maintain vigilance with the implementation of the ballast water regulations and some of the work you've done, particularly around the sea lamprey control program, which has been tremendously successful.