Thank you for the question, Mr. Cormier. I also thank you for giving me the opportunity, last week, to visit people and fishing grounds on the Acadian peninsula.
As you mentioned, I had conversations with fish harvesters and the Acadian Crabbers Association. I saw how important the crab fishery is to your community and the critical role DFO plays by getting access to the fishery as early as possible in the season.
Thank you for showing me those maps of the ice and how it slowly melts. There are choke points, and so that's the essence of what we're working on. We know that crabbers have to get out into the water as early as possible. There are some areas in the inner harbour where we have small icebreakers heading up to your area—the Coast Guard icebreakers—as we speak. With regard to the amphibious machines that need to go into those tighter channels to move that ice, those contracts are being signed and those will be there soon. Then there will heavier icebreakers and Canadian Coast Guard hovercrafts.
We're putting in all of our equipment and our forces to help your constituents and fishers get out on the water as soon as possible.