Thanks. Again, it's been an honour for me to be on the fisheries committee since 2010.
One thing was said earlier, though, that quite disturbed me. I wasn't part of the study here, but I don't think committee members should be the least bit reticent about demanding the presence of staff here. I hear that the staff kind of just blew the committee off and said they were in a conference. I think that is absolutely, completely unacceptable. This committee is too important for staff not to be here, and a conference is simply not an excuse.
Again, this is not a partisan comment, but colleagues, no department official has the right to refuse to appear before this committee.
Thank you for allowing me to say that, Mr. Chair.