Through you, Chair. I'm concerned about the relevance of this particular study to this committee. Mr. Rogers spoke about the connections between fishing, export and trade, issues that really could be better studied within another committee.
I'm also concerned about the particularities of the nature and scope of the motion. The term “value” is so vaguely described that I don't see the connection to this committee per se.
Also, there are vast regional differences among different regions. When you look at the regional development agencies, you see the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, Prairies Economic Development Canada and then Pacific Economic Development Canada. I've listed seven agencies. The motion is calling for a minimum of seven meetings.
Given the comprehensive nature of these different regional development agencies, many of which are dealing with issues that are not even related to this committee, I would submit that this motion has been brought improperly before this committee. It's the wrong committee. The depths that would be required in order to explore the vague definition of “value” across these various agencies would probably take up our entire year of study within this committee.
Those are my submissions.