Thank you, Dwight.
As has been said, I am Lorraine Michael, Leader of the New Democratic Party of Newfoundland and Labrador, and I, too, thank the committee for being able to be here today.
This all-party committee understands that there is a review of the underlying climatic and other conditions leading to a decline in the northern shrimp allocation. We are aware that this resource is changing and it is possible that quotas could continue to decline. We're not denying this fact.
Over time quota cuts will lead to a significant loss of employment in both harvesting and processing sectors and possible closure of more shrimp plants. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador appreciates the need to make such cuts to protect the resource, but the way these cuts are administered will be crucial to the economic well-being of rural Newfoundland and Labrador. This issue has such serious implications for communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador that all members of the provincial legislature joined with industry stakeholders, the business community, and municipal leaders to seek a better outcome. That is why we are presenting to you here today. If LIFO were eliminated now, it would reduce the immediate and drastic impact of current allocations on rural communities.
I will now hand the proceedings back to the chair of our all-party committee to outline our recommendations.