Then he did reference the thought process.
This issue needs to be dealt with by the committee. The fact is that the minister has failed—the sixth minister, the sixth failure—fish harvesters, the processing side of the industry and the coastal rural communities of southwest Nova Scotia.
It's not just southwest Nova Scotia where out-of-season fishing is happening. My colleague Mr. Perkins will be able to speak to that a bit later, but it's happening in several areas of Nova Scotia. He referenced what was happening in the Bay of Fundy.
This is a very big deal. This is something we're going to be dealing with two or three years down the road, with the potential closure of that fishery if this keeps going the way it's going. We're at a point now where we can do something to stop that from happening. The southwest Nova Scotia lobster fishery is worth around $2 billion per year. It's a very big deal.
If not for the mismanagement, we wouldn't be discussing this question of privilege here today, and I thank my colleague for bringing it forward. It's very important. I hope that when we're through the process on this question of privilege, we can see the direction and action that are desperately needed for the lobster fishery in southwest Nova Scotia.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.