Mr. Speaker, I table a petition from the residents of the Magdalen Islands.
The signatories are opposed to what they term discriminatory measures in the Atlantic groundfish strategy, particularly the early retirement program.
In their petition they claim that the TAGS measures adopted by the Department of Human Resources Development are insufficient and not adapted to the needs of workers in the fishing industry. They also claim that they were not consulted before the program was implemented, particularly on the early retirement component.
They are therefore calling upon the government to give consideration in the post-TAGS program to people who turned 55 after December 31, 1998.