Fisheries committee  Thank you for your question, Mr. Blais. You are quite right—climate change is one of the most important priorities for Canada and the world. The department has actually been studying climate change for quite a long time. Increasingly, we are trying to carry out research projects

Fisheries committee  You are quite right when you say that there are all sorts of questions. We are trying to answer a number of types of questions. Oceanographers, biologists, and chemists have been called upon to provide answers to a range of questions. There is not a single priority or problem in

Fisheries committee  I think you've pretty well answered most of it now. What Mr. Bevan has said about the principles for how we go forward and consult with the industry is the important thing. But in terms of the actual numbers, the deputy is correct, the science portion we were able to analyze down

Fisheries committee  That particular issue is part of the consideration under Larocque, although it has a few differences from the east coast decisions. Sylvain may wish to say something on that.

Fisheries committee  Larocque was in the Federal Court of Appeal. The first decision came down in May 2005, and it came in favour of the minister. The appeal came in favour of Larocque.

Fisheries committee  I would like to thank you very much for that, Mr. Chair. It will mean a great deal to our scientists.

Fisheries committee  In one year it was included and the next year it wasn't, because it had already been withdrawn. Each year I transfer this money to coast guard.

Fisheries committee  Thank you for the question. If you ask any individual scientist, of course, they can always do more if they have more, and I agree with that. We have had an augmentation of the science budget. As our minister has said when he's appeared before committee and has told us many ti

Fisheries committee  It was June of this year when the Federal Court of Appeal ruled, in what's now called the Larocque decision, that fisheries resources do not belong to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and that the minister did not have the authority to finance any of the department's activiti

Fisheries committee  Yes. Sorry, I'd like to just come back to one of your first interventions, and then I'll answer the vessel question. I agree with you completely on getting our story out there. You've given me the opportunity to say that in 2008 we will be celebrating the centenary of our two ol

Fisheries committee  We have a draft five-year research plan, and I would propose that once we've come to ground on that a bit more--it's pretty technical at this point--within the department and externally, I would very much wish to share it with this committee should you so wish.

Fisheries committee  It's in press.

Fisheries committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would ask for clarification on one of your first points on toxic chemicals and pesticides. I was referencing the centres of expertise. Do you want information on the centres of expertise or on the work we're doing?

Fisheries committee  Okay, we will come back to you on that. In terms of your point about the disconnect between fishermen and scientists, this is one that keeps me awake sometimes. I think it is an issue. We have tried and we will continue to try to address it. As you may recall, one of the progr

Fisheries committee  Thank you very much. The numbers aren't totally reflective, and there are some numbers in 2006-07 that may not be in 2005-06, and vice versa. My recollection is that for 2005-06 the vessel numbers were included, whereas for 2006-07 the vessel numbers were not included. So in f