Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, this is a difficult question. I understand the concern from some segments, at least of the Fishermen's Federation. I recognize that the fishermen feel that they're getting very low prices for their higher-value fish, for the trout and whitefish and pickerel in that lake, and some may feel that they could be more successful marketing on their own. The difficulty is that probably not all of the fishermen have the capacity to engage in those marketing activities; some probably do. But as the Member has pointed out, once you are under the legislation of the FFMS, it is as if you're either in or you're out. We have had discussions about exemptions from that quota, and I'm just not sure that that is the wish of all the fishermen in the federation. If that is the wish of all the fishermen in the federation and they would like to see me lobby the federal Minister on that matter, we can do that.
There is quite a history here. I think almost 10 years ago one of my predecessors wrote a letter to the fisheries Minister at that time asking for an exemption, only to find out that some segments of the Fishermen's Federation were not in support of that. I think the department was soundly criticized for taking that action. Before I would do that, I would want to know that the entire Fishermen's Federation supported that initiative. Obviously, there are questions around how the quota would be divided up in the event we were successful in getting it, but I'm reluctant to lobby a federal Minister to later find out that in fact the Great Slave Lake fishermen's federation is not consolidated behind that position. There are some difficult issues here. I will commit, though, to working with committee and with Members going forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.