Fisheries committee  That's a great question. It will have a huge effect because the provincial funding that's been committed is subject to the federal funds. They look at it from a leverage standpoint, obviously. We've secured the vast majority of the funds required for our operations. That's about $500,000 to $600,000.

Fisheries committee  We make it a requirement, which is why we're getting it, as an organization, that when industry comes to us with a concept that we'll take and run with--and you have to think about this in context. Our industrial liaison officers are the brains behind our centre. They spend a lot of time out in the field.

Fisheries committee  Yes, we've actually received over $400,000 in commitments from Atlantic provinces. That includes, as a ballpark figure, about $140,000 or $150,000 from the maritime provinces combined. So it's a significant contribution.

Fisheries committee  No, absolutely not. Actually we tabled a submission to ACOA back in June of 2008. It was submitted formally to senior officials in ACOA Newfoundland and Labrador. I have a copy of the submission as well as the correspondence here, if there is a requirement to table such a document.

Fisheries committee  I think we're shaking our heads a little bit on this. We haven't been given what we would call a credible reason not to continue the centre. As for some of the issues raised recently in terms of the centre having outlived its usefulness, well, that couldn't be further from the truth; the 60 to 70 or 70 to 80 letters of support from industry dictate otherwise.

Fisheries committee  We've had letters of support, obviously, from you and other members from Newfoundland and Labrador. We've had a letter of support from Mr. Peter Stoffer. We've also had a letter of support from MP Gerald Keddy from Nova Scotia as well. So there's support. The final point I guess I'd like to make on this is that this is not a political issue.

Fisheries committee  Absolutely. We were approached initially two years ago by the Fisheries Council of Canada on this particular initiative, based on the fact that they knew we had hosted recent events. They said they couldn't lead it. They needed somebody who was independent to lead such a thing, given some of the issues in the industry.

Fisheries committee  The short answer to that is no. There is not an organization that can be tapped into to do the kind of work that we do. On the recent announcements on the cod aquaculture, it is important to note--and I've noted it previously--that a good portion of the leading edge that initially went into cod aquaculture in Newfoundland and Labrador was led by the Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation going back to our first year of operation in 1989 when we got engaged in this research.

Fisheries committee  Absolutely.

Fisheries committee  Sure. We completed the operational sustainability review of the centre, and we submitted a renewal proposal in June of 2008. We presented a cost-yeared approach that involved provincial, federal, academic, and institutional support. In February of this year we received a $400,000 commitment from the four provincial Atlantic Canadian governments.

Fisheries committee  I'll do my best to slow that down. Essentially, what we do as an organization is provide to industry the services of the colleges and institutions of Atlantic Canada in industrial and applied fisheries research and development. We are a university-owned, government-funded, and industry-driven research and development organization.

Fisheries committee  Will do.

Fisheries committee  I've already forewarned the translators that I tend to have a bit of a quick delivery, but I've been informed that it's quite common for your east coast visitors.

Fisheries committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'd like to thank you and the committee members here today for inviting me to appear on fairly short notice. I'm certainly honoured to do so. I've actually appeared before the Senate committee on several occasions in the past in a previous capacity, but it's my first appearance before the House of Commons committee.