Fisheries committee  Yes, I can.

Fisheries committee  Yes. I think what I see on the issue, from my perspective, is that there were efforts made on numerous different bases but there was no lead on the file. There was nothing glued to keep it together. There was an effort here, there was an effort made another year, an effort made here.

Fisheries committee  I'll try to put a perspective on that one. Number one, I think it's fair to say that trade is a concern for the European Commission and for member states on this issue. It's an issue that I've raised with individual member states, and I've indicated to them and to their leadership on this file that they have a responsibility too, as member states, to have an input on this decision, because it affects them as member states.

Fisheries committee  On the WTO process, number one, we hope to get an amicable resolution. I've always indicated, and I've said in public interviews and otherwise, that the resolution to this is an amicable one that doesn't prevent the opportunity for us to export our seal and seal products. What that will be, I can't tell you.

Fisheries committee  I can update you on my efforts in that regard too. Hopefully it doesn't get to that stage. We have targeted the ones that had resolutions or legislation pending. Those countries would be Germany, Austria, and Italy. Those three have pending legislation. In Italy it went to the Italian Parliament.

Fisheries committee  But this is a little--

Fisheries committee  I don't know the dynamics before March of 2007. This goes way back into the.... This was initiated in their Parliament in 2005. So looking back over the history of it, I think it was a file where advocacy would have probably been needed to counteract the NGOs infiltrating the minds of the public and the parliamentarians and pushing the issue; we would have probably had to mount a campaign over a decade ago to be able to counteract what's going on in the public forum over there.

Fisheries committee  With trade policy, there's a DG of trade within the European Commission too. There are 27 member states at the European Commission, and trade is one. Commissioner Mandelson is the commissioner of trade. There is a directorate dealing with trade too.

Fisheries committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair and members of Parliament, for the opportunity to give you an update on what's happening on the seal file. Last March my first involvement with it was when I was asked to take a lead on a delegation going to Europe, a delegation of sealers from different parts of the country, the Premier of Nunavut, and a minister from Newfoundland and Labrador—I think there was an election in Quebec at the time and it wasn't as practical for them to attend—and we had hosts from industry.

Fisheries committee  It's dealing with an international treaty, so, yes, that would come within my responsibilities and my mandate, no doubt. I'm generally aware of the problems in the past by virtue, I guess, of being a Canadian citizen and hearing it. At this point, I think chapters 5 and 6 are due by December 31, 2008.

Fisheries committee  Where there are implications on an international basis. If there is a crossing of international boundaries, it would be an issue, but under my mandate I'm not aware of issues that are international in scope within our internal waters at the present. That would be a domestic issue.

Fisheries committee  Well, we're living as part of an ecosystem, and I did make reference to the fact that when we're looking at putting in an ecosystem approach there, it's important to look at all aspects, no doubt about it. If there are implications, whether it's shipping or whether it's oil and gas—and some had reference to ecotourism and other areas—there could be implications on an international basis.

Fisheries committee  Canada pays $500,000, and there are probably overhead office costs we're picking up in Dartmouth, too, I would say, in addition to that $500,000.

Fisheries committee  It's about 40%.

Fisheries committee  Well, I guess setting a fee, a certain amount is in line with your access to the stocks that are there, too. If you look at, for example, the yellowtail flounder, that would appear to be 97.5% of the quota. Some are much less, but there are significant areas that we fish in those areas.