Agriculture committee  I think we also have a role to play to get out accurate information about our products, so I think it's both.

Agriculture committee  It's a good question. Here in Canada, we've been farming shellfish for a lot longer but we've been farming salmon for about the last 35 years. In that time, the industry has certainly grown in Canada, though not at the same pace that it has worldwide. Our competitors in Norway, Scotland, and Chile have grown at a much faster rate.

Agriculture committee  It's an interesting question, because there are certainly pockets of the population that are critical of the industry simply because it's new and unfamiliar. I mean, 35 years isn't a long time compared to agriculture. Certainly, there has always been a very quick acceptance in the marketplace, because the product is high quality, and that was received positively very early on.

Agriculture committee  Absolutely.

Agriculture committee  The industry will always have a role to play in informing about the products. We take that seriously. Others may have a role to play too, but you are absolutely right that when any kind of new technology or industry moves ahead, consumer information is part of that.

Agriculture committee  That's an interesting question. It's been our perspective that there's a demand for both wild and farmed in the marketplace. Up until the approval of the genetically modified technology, were the two types of salmon available in the marketplace coming from aquaculture and not from the traditional fishery?

Agriculture committee  No, the members of my association have not. Again, it goes back to looking at what the barriers are for our industry moving forward, and this isn't one of them.

Agriculture committee  That's right. The GM discussion doesn't factor into our plans for responsible and sustainable expansion. We believe we can do that responsibly with the technology we use today.

Agriculture committee  That's a good question. We've long been on the record as saying that we wouldn't accept it until two things were in place. One is that the appropriate regulatory bodies in Canada and the U.S. approve it, which is where we are now. Two, if the market demands it, and that's the key issue because we produce a high-quality product that is in high demand.

Agriculture committee  They're not interested, and we're therefore not interested in supplying it.

Agriculture committee  Our industry doesn't see it as something we're grappling with, because we feel very strongly that we can move forward responsibly and sustainably without GM technology. Our industry has been involved in selective breeding programs for a number of years, and those programs are creating a high-quality fish that is in demand in the marketplace.

Agriculture committee  I think it's an important discussion. I am not sure that we can go much further than that, other than the fact that all our members are committed to helping pass along that accurate information, and certainly we will support the government's decision and go along with that. We think it's an important discussion, and we certainly understand that there are lots of ramifications.

Agriculture committee  We've looked at what's possible with the levels of investment if we make some policy, legislative, and program changes for our industry. We've stated for a long time that the regulatory framework is complex and confusing and deters investment. We've identified a strategy which, if enacted, would encourage investment.

Agriculture committee  I think I'm on first, so that's good.

Agriculture committee  Good morning, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the committee for inviting the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance to speak with you today. By production volume and value, our association represents over 95% of the aquaculture industry in Canada. Our members include large and small companies from both finfish and shellfish sectors, marine and freshwater operations, regional aquaculture associations, feed suppliers, and other companies across the aquaculture value chain in Canada.