Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.
As the minister knows, groundfish licences that were inactive in 1991 and 1992 were frozen for 1993. This freeze affected approximately 4,000 fishermen and has in effect penalized them for acting responsibly in the face of declining groundfish stocks. It was stated at the time that the freeze would not have a negative effect on anyone pursuing a licence renewal in 1994.
I would like to ask the minister if he will be acting quickly to resolve the issue of inactive licences and honour the pledge made by his predecessor to treat all licence holders as equals.