Mr. Speaker, I would like to respond to the concerns raised by some members of the seafood industry about the possible loss of expertise and advocacy for seafood at the federal level once the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is created.
Clearly it is very much this expertise that underscores the safety and trade ability of Canadian fish and fish products. We export over 80 per cent of our fish products today. Our exports are worth about $3 billion a year and are in large part directly supported by the system and expertise in the fish inspection area.
Expertise, professional experience and advocacy for sea food must continue and will continue to be an integral part of the agency. Our departmental staff is trying to determine the best way to have access to these skills during the transition period prior to establishing the Food Inspection Agency and also in the longer term.
I expect the agency will work over the first year to develop the optimal organization for the future which will best serve industry and the public. Service to and interests of the seafood industry will be paramount in this process.
I would also like to confirm the minister of agriculture's intention to have strong representation of the fisheries sector on the ministerial advisory board of the agency.
We have been consulting industry groups on a permanent basis during this past year. We will continue to do so when the agency is ready to become operational.