Mr. Chair, I listened with great interest to the debate and I noticed the extreme differences in quotas over the last number of years. We have experienced that in Newfoundland and Labrador of course. We know what happens when fishing quotas get out of whack. We have seen extreme measures taken with the cod, for example, in Newfoundland going back to 1992.
The federal minister for Newfoundland in those days, Mr. Crosbie, was very successful in achieving programs to alleviate some of the problems that existed there. I am wondering why we have not seen that kind of program here.
What is happening to the science budget in the Department of Fisheries and Oceans that we cannot have more accurate information on an ongoing basis? There has been severe criticism of the reductions in the science program, and I wonder if the member could comment on that.