Fisheries committee  I certainly can.

Fisheries committee  The minister didn't want the department to be conducting the same study as the standing committee. Basically, the minister told the department “tools down” on doing that. The department was doing it in two stages. One was doing a background piece, and the other part was doing interviews, which was the second stage.

Fisheries committee  I have an email that outlines what they were to produce last year.

Fisheries committee  It's because it's in the hands of a few, because it's harder to find—there's no bank or repository where you can go and identify that—and because people will want money for it.

Fisheries committee  It's happening. Last year, for the known purchases of licences, there was $60 million through the boat brokers here, and half of that was from foreign ownership or from foreign purchasers.

Fisheries committee  Certainly.

Fisheries committee  I'll start, if I may. Last year, there were 45,000 tonnes of unfished quota. That was above and beyond what we harvested last year in terms of what was allocated or identified as total allowable catch for British Colombia.

Fisheries committee  Honourable Chair and committee members, I'm honoured to be invited to speak to you today. This topic is critically important for the future of B.C. fisheries and our coast. If the government wants to ensure that the benefits from our fisheries and fishing licences go to harvesters on the coastal communities, you must articulate these objectives and fund the department to make it so.