Madam Speaker, I welcome the brand new Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to the portfolio. I was glad to hear him tell the House and all Canadians listening that it is indeed better to negotiate than it is to litigate.
We know the historical aspect. The previous Conservative government and the current Liberal government told the aboriginal people “Take your cases to court”. In the Bay of Fundy region, District 35 opens up its commercial offshore season tomorrow. The Bay of Fundy inshore fishermen are working very closely with the aboriginal people to come up with a long term solution. The problem is, they are doing it on their own with no help at all from DFO officials.
Will the minister commit the necessary human and financial resources to aid those people in their co-operative effort toward a long term solution?