Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd like to thank the witnesses for joining us.
Good afternoon, Minister.
Before I ask my question, I want to draw your attention to a letter that was sent to you in May, so several months ago. The same letter was sent to Canada Economic Development, Transport Canada and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada from EcoMaris. EcoMaris is a training boat for people in the Coast Guard, in particular, but also for indigenous and non-Indigenous people.
The letter explains that a man was the victim of a Transport Canada error, related to the certification of a vessel before and after its purchase. He is dealing with a funding deficit, and his application remains unanswered. I think it's important to look into this problem, because many young people, having dropped out, return to school to resume learning thanks to this school boat, which performs miracles.
Thank you.
Minister, we heard recently that tens of millions of dollars were invested in offshore boats several months ago. Coincidentally, the redfish fishery was then opened. Now we have the opening of the cod fishery. We asked the harvesters whether they had invested any money. They told us that they had indeed invested several million dollars.
Were these offshore harvesters, who received significant quotas, aware of the opening of these fisheries, since they invested so much money?