Thank you, Chair.
Welcome to everyone here.
My first question relates to Vancouver Island—in my riding and in surrounding communities as well—where I heard from salmon trollers in the summer that the start of their fishing season was significantly delayed, and at the very last minute, almost totally without notice or consultation.
You know that I support, as well as coastal communities and fishers, the conservation and protection of wild salmon, but it's this exact chronic and repeated lack of consultation and consideration that alienates the department from the fishers with whom it should be working closely.
Can you please explain the rationale behind the decision in this case, and what consultation has been done with fishers?