Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I want to thank the witnesses for joining us today. This has really been very beneficial.
My question is for the department representatives.
The Fisheries Act stipulates that the fish habitat in coastal regions like the Great North must be protected. Section 35 of the Fisheries Act may be amended, so that, from now on, only commercial and aboriginal fishing would be protected. If an agreement was really reached on hydrocarbon development in the Great North, how would the department take aboriginal interests into consideration?
We saw in the Marshall decision that it was not only a matter of consulting aboriginals, but also of taking their needs into account. I would like to know whether technology that helps protect aboriginal fishing exists and whether the department has taken steps not only to consult aboriginals, but also to take their interests into consideration.