Madam Speaker, our environment and oceans are a vital source of food, productivity and work for thousands of Canadians, especially on the coast of British Columbia. The government's first responsibility is to protect the oceans so we can have an abundant fish stock that reproduces itself and comes back year after year. If we do not protect the oceans, salmon and sockeye stocks will not return again.
That is why we are protecting 25% of our coast and making sure there is an abundant food supply, particularly from the oceans, for years and generations to come. I can assure members that when the budget comes out in the spring, they will see initiatives to help protect the fishermen and women on the coast.