Mr. Chair, we're on a first-name basis.
My question for the minister is on the sentinel cod surveys being cut this year due to cuts in the budget. The sentinel cod surveys in Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec, which have been a tool in understanding where the rebuilding processes were over the years, are now being completely eliminated. It's understandable on the Labrador coast, on the northeast coast and on the east coast of Newfoundland, where these stocks are pretty much in the healthy zone. However, cod stocks on the south and west coasts of Newfoundland, the 4R portion of Labrador and 4RST portion in Quebec and the Maritimes, are below the cautious zone.
Why would you cut a tool that you've relied on and that's proven over time to be a great help in knowing the health of these stocks? Why would you cut that in areas where the stocks are below the cautious zone?