Thank you, Mr.¦Chair.
Minister, I would like to welcome you and congratulate you on your appointment as Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard. It was very nice to see you in my riding this summer. We very much enjoyed meeting with various groups and we also had the opportunity to participate in the Tintamarre held during the Acadian Festival. That was a memorable experience.
We are neighbours, Minister. In fact, we live across from each other. We share the same bay, Chaleur Bay. What you said earlier is music to my ears. You have told the officials in your department that they have to understand the situations in our regions and the day-to-day difficulties in the fisheries.
I know you are familiar with the challenges we have to meet. The mackerel fishery is closed. The spring herring fishery is closed. As you know, this year has probably been the worst year for the fall herring fishery. The shrimp fishery is going extremely badly. The communities that depend on these fisheries, the fishers and the plant workers, need help.
Minister, have you asked the officials in your department and other ministers to look into these issues? As you know, problems like these can have a devastating effect on our communities.
Are you going to do everything you can to help these people, who depend on these fisheries?