Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to all the witnesses for being here. I'd like to thank the witnesses in the room who travelled to come here.
I am very happy that we're talking about clam digging on the Gaspé peninsula and Baie des Chaleurs.
A few days after our first committee meeting at the end of March, a resident of Bonaventure organized a gathering. About 150 people from Bonaventure and Saint-Siméon came out to demand that clam harvesting sites be opened. This is a really important activity for us in the Gaspé. It's our culture, it's our tradition. The first nations, the Mi'kmaq, are also calling for sites to be opened up.
During this session, we have received resolutions from the municipalities of Escuminac, Bonaventure, Carleton‑sur‑Mer and Gaspé. The reeves are all asking that we find a solution to open more shellfish sites. My goal is to see how we can achieve this. Currently, all requests are categorically denied. We're just being told that there are no resources.
First, let's talk about sanitation.
I'll start with Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Ms. Volk, have any tests been conducted recently in the southern Gaspé peninsula, in the Baie des Chaleurs area, that would show the water is unsuitable for harvesting clams?