Okay.
You said in your opening remarks that your top priority was to ensure that the fisheries continue. I share that priority.
Over the past few weeks, the committee has heard abundant testimony converging toward the same reality. That testimony has come from British Columbia, the Maritimes and even the Côte‑Nord, as we heard the day before yesterday. It seems that illegal fishing is an issue and that some fisheries officers don't have all the necessary means to respond. This could refer to physical resources. However, a witness told us on Tuesday that fisheries officers had been instructed not to respond in cases of illegal fishing involving indigenous persons.
When we speak with fishery stakeholders who are members of first nations, they say that they don't permit illegal fishing. The band council members with whom I've had a chance to speak do not condone violations. Like you and me, they want to preserve the resource.
It now it seems possible that first nations violators and potential members of organized crime are sometimes forming alliances. It appalls me to hear reports from fisheries officers that they've been instructed to back off.
Ms. Thompson, will you commit today to issue a directive to fisheries officers and their supervisors saying that they have to respond and fight illegal fishing, even if first nations fishers are involved?