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 h

Fisheries committee  Yes, I can.

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 leaders

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 th

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

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 min

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 pa

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

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

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 tho