I call this meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting number 43 of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans.
I would like to begin by acknowledging that we are gathered on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108, the committee is meeting to begin its study of Atlantic salmon populations.
Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, pursuant to the Standing Orders.
Pursuant to our routine motions, I want to advise committee members that all witnesses appearing virtually today have successfully conducted the required testing.
I want to remind participants of the following housekeeping points: Please wait until I recognize you by name before speaking. For those on video conference, if you click on the little microphone at the bottom of your screen, you will be able to listen in the language of your choice.
Witnesses, I would like to remind you that committee members may ask questions in either English or French, so please put on your earpieces now so that you can be ready for that.
All comments should be addressed through the chair. Members in the room, if you want to speak, put your hand up, and we will recognize you.
I want to welcome our witnesses.
From Kingsclear First Nation, we have Chief Justice Gruben, Councillor Patrick Polchies and Chad Solomon.
From Fédération québécoise pour le saumon atlantique, we have Normand Fiset, president, and Myriam Bergeron, executive director.
We also have Paul White, an angler, by video conference.
Witnesses, you have five minutes for your group; you don't get five minutes each. The spokesperson for your group can start. We're clocking you. I will literally give you a shout-out when you have one minute left so that you can wrap up. If you don't get to finish your full presentation, you have to wrap up, and then you can expand on it during the question and answer period.
We will start with the witnesses' opening statements of five minutes, and we'll start with Chief Gruben.