Mr. Speaker, scientists who study belugas are worried. They think that we are on the verge of a catastrophe.
This summer alone, biologists in Tadoussac found nine dead belugas, including five babies and pregnant females. This is a big deal for an endangered species with a population under 1,000. As a result, before disturbing the beluga habitat with an oil port project, the government should be cautious and should seek the advice of marine mammal experts. That is the only appropriate approach. The only one.
Why does the minister refuse to let scientists at her own department's science branch speak? Does she have something to hide?