Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to our witnesses for being here today.
Before I begin my questions, I'd like to read a motion into the record for the committee as follows. I move:
That the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans proceeds to the study on the statutory review of the Fisheries Act in order that [we] might further strengthen owner-operator rules and enforcement measures given the Conservative Party of Canada's hidden agenda to gut owner-operator on the East Coast much as they did in British Columbia when they were last in power. Furthermore, once the study begins, it shall not be interrupted by anything other than the scheduled ministerial appearance, hearings on [wrecked] and abandoned vessels, or an emergency meeting as defined by...[section] 106(4) [of the Standing Orders].
Mr. Chair, at this time, I'd like to seek unanimous consent to bypass the normal 48-hour notice period and debate this motion today.