Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to the witnesses for being with us today.
I apologize to the interpreters, but clam digging is something we've been doing back home for many years. I started this activity with my grandfather and father. I do it now with my kids. For some people in my region, I can understand that it's hard to accept that, on a nice summer day, they can't engage in this activity. It's also difficult for some people who earn a small income from it from one year to the next.
Ms. Volk, I'm glad you clarified the issue of the opening of harvesting areas. So it doesn't always take three years and, in some areas, it can take less time.
Let's try to clarify this so that people in my area—I know that some of them are listening to our debates—really understand what's happening. When a decision is made to close an area on the Baie des Chaleurs, for example, in my region, it's done mainly for the safety and health of the people who will consume those shellfish.
Ms. Gaudet can probably answer my question, since she knows the region.
Is testing done systematically in all the small bays along the Baie des Chaleurs, for example, or is it done randomly? For example, it may be one day in one region and another day in another.
My question is more about testing. Where are these tests done?
Thank you.