They've certainly been caught off guard again, but there's no excuse for it, Mr. Johns, and here's why. It's because, as we've heard previous witnesses from within the indigenous communities say, they've been raising these issues with government for years, with successive governments, as has the industry. For three years, we've lobbied extensively Minister Jordan and Minister Blair and have raised the public safety concerns.
Let's be clear on what is really at the centre of this issue. Over the last three years, Justin Trudeau's cabinet, as a tactic at the negotiating table, has stopped enforcing existing Canadian fishery policy and law because they don't want to sour the mood at the table. That lack of law enforcement is precisely what led to the chaos and the animosity between fishermen who have peacefully coexisted.