Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to the minister for appearing again today with members from your department.
Minister, in your opening remarks you noted $36.8 million for the Pacific salmon strategic initiative. I would take it that this is a priority for your department.
In this committee's study of the flooding in B.C., the committee heard that the PSSI would be the delivery program to address the impacts of the flooding, yet the committee has also heard that PSSI was being built from the ground up and is not yet operational. It baffles me as to why a program that is non-operational, or not fully operational, would be designated as a delivery program for actions that are needed now and not months down the road.
Can you tell us today quickly where the process of the Pacific salmon strategic initiative development is at? How much of the $647 million has already been committed and to what?
If the answer is lengthy, we can take that answer in writing, but I would appreciate a brief breakdown today, please.