Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Burns, thank you for being with us today. I'll say it again, this is quite a complex study.
The leader of my party, Mr. Blanchet, my colleague Ms. Michaud and I consulted the fishers. For example, we met last week with people from La Fourchette bleue. The people in the fishing sector, particularly the shrimpers in Quebec and the mackerel fishers, don't feel that they are being taken into consideration. They don't feel heard.
In the House, I asked the minister, are we going to see fishery in Quebec slowly shutting down? I'm not talking about lobster, because the seals are eating it. So we don't know what's going to happen. In Quebec, the general opinion is that this can't go on. What we saw last week was a terribly discouraging outpouring of emotion.
In a perfect world, the fisheries and the fishers' know-how would be supported, succession and skills would be ensured, and a sustainable fishery would be preserved. As we know, factory ships have already diminished the biomass, and they will keep doing it.
Is the government open to supporting a sustainable fishery for owner-operators so that they can make a living, create jobs and ensure succession? Is that part of your plan for Quebec?