Finance committee  This is a limited entry industry. It's mostly because you need a specific type of knowledge to be able to get into this industry. We basically realized 15 or 20 years ago, especially for security reasons, that you want to be careful about the experience you need to have to be on the water.

Finance committee  They're basically going back to the state. The state transferred the licences to them. This is a common resource. It's very important for us, and that's why this policy is extremely important. This is not a private industry, this is a common resource, which, basically, harvesters set out to generate the most that we can from.

Finance committee  What we were told approximately five to seven years ago was that the fishery was a sunset industry and ACOA was closed for business. We managed to get a few programs through but we were very creative, to say the least, and they brought some fantastic results. It was more of a structural issue on how to organize the fishery, etc., but we are at a point where we've demonstrated what we can do in terms of export results.

Finance committee  I just wanted to start by echoing my colleague's situation. I have to show support for what he's saying. This is an issue that's also going to be happening in the fisheries sector. We're seeing a change in our natural resources, at the base. Fishermen were perceived as not very serious businessmen at one point.

Finance committee  Oh, the loan guarantees, basically, we have a system, and again it's part of that demographics problem, where we don't have sufficient capital for our young harvesters who are in the boat. They don't have any options to really take on the investment that is necessary today. The older fellows in the industry bought their lobster licences for 25¢, believe it or not, in the sixties, or fifties, or forties.

Finance committee  I must admit that at this time, we are quite satisfied with existing programs. They really do act as a security net in extremely difficult times, for instance like the ones our industry experienced recently. The programs were really useful at that time. We are more concerned with the medium term.

Finance committee  What we are trying to prevent is a unique demographics crisis that could happen in the next five to 10 years. I don't think we're the only industry that will be going through this. I think this is also Canada-wide. The reason why it might be unique for Atlantic Canada is that we don't have an enormous pool, especially in the fishing industry, of people who are ready, or would have the know-how, or want to learn how to head out with 25 knots on the water in the morning to harvest sticky herring from 4 o'clock in the morning to approximately 4 o'clock in the afternoon.

Finance committee  The Minister of Finance would probably not have great influence, despite the influence he may exert on extremely important policies aimed at creating and maintaining growth such as we have experienced. I also think this will be absolutely crucial for the next generation. He may not be the best choice, in the sense that that is probably not his role, but all the influence he could have...

Finance committee  Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I'd like to begin by thanking the members of the committee and extending my greetings to them, especially Mr. Easter, from the Atlantic region, and Mr. MacKinnon, whom I have not seen for some time. My comments will be in reply to question 3, essentially.

International Trade committee  Mr. Chair, I would like to add something concerning jobs. I only need five seconds.

International Trade committee  The fishery sector is the largest private employer in the Atlantic provinces, with 25,000 direct and indirect jobs.

International Trade committee  It is very clear that we are in favour of the agreement. Perhaps I was not clear enough during my presentation, but we are in favour of all options for reducing tariffs on sea products. We have only one reservation, which I mentioned during my presentation. I think I have explained the reasons for that clearly enough.

International Trade committee  Can I make another observation?

International Trade committee  Tariffs for frozen lobster and shellfish are much higher than for live lobster. Eliminating tariffs would be very important, especially for countries like Vietnam, where a high volume of shellfish passes through on the way to China. There are also the Japanese markets. In the east and the west, be it in emerging or developed countries, habits are changing, especially among young people, who usually want to be able to prepare their meals much more quickly.

International Trade committee  I have a brief comment to make. The fact that gigantic fleets have been heavily subsidized is a world-wide concern. I have witnessed that myself in certain European regions, where the fleets are made up of huge vessels that look more like war ships. Obviously, according to us, this has harmful consequences on the environment and the preservation of species across the planet.