Today's debate is a general one on all votes under Department of Fisheries and Oceans. The first round will begin with the official opposition, followed by the government, the Bloc Québécois and the New Democratic Party. After that, we will follow the usual proportional rotation.
Pursuant to order made earlier today, within each 15-minute period, each party may allocate time to one or more of its members for speeches or for questions and answers.
In the case of speeches, members of the party to which the period is allocated may speak one after the other, but the time allocated for speeches must not exceed 10 minutes. The Chair would appreciate it if the first member to speak in each period would indicate how that time will be used, particularly if the time will be shared.
The order also specifies that, when the time is used for questions and answers, the minister's answer should approximately reflect the time taken by the question. I would note here that the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans will be joining the debate remotely. As such, there will be pauses from time to time for connecting to the debate. In addition, the Chair will receive no quorum calls, dilatory motions or requests for unanimous consent.
I also wish to indicate that in committee of the whole, comments should be addressed to the Chair as they always are in normal debates in the chamber. I ask for everyone's co-operation in upholding all the established standards of decorum, parliamentary language and behaviour.
We will now begin tonight's session.
The House in committee of the whole, pursuant to Standing Order 81(4), consideration in committee of the whole of all votes under Department of Fisheries and Oceans in the main estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021.
The hon. Leader of the Opposition.