Transport committee  It's mostly speculative, because everything ends up depending on what the price of oil is today and what the price of minerals is tomorrow. So it's not easy to anticipate, although there are a number of projects in the offing and a number of companies indicating that regardless of the price of oil they will continue to plan for increased activity.

Transport committee  That's correct. Yes, it's likely.

Transport committee  Once you go to the site of the exploration, NRCan has the responsibility for the offshore aspects, and they indeed, through the National Energy Board, have the regulations in place. I could not tell you exactly what it is. I could tell--

Transport committee  That is correct. That is covered under the current regulations.

Transport committee  Yes, they are.

Transport committee  There are two aspects I could address. One is that in the preparation to propose the extension of the geographic area of coverage for the Arctic act, there was consultation, of course, particularly with the other two ministries, with NRCan and with Indian and Northern Affairs, and also with other departments of interest, including the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Environment Canada, and indeed Foreign Affairs.

Transport committee  In the additional area beyond the 100 miles, yes, that is correct.

Transport committee  Perhaps I will put it the other way around, in this perspective. The main set of pollution prevention measures under this act and its regulations, called the Arctic Shipping Pollution Prevention Regulations, is directly related to the construction and the equipment and the qualifications of the crew for ships operating in that area.

Transport committee  The short answer is no.

Transport committee  I can't easily. Speaking directly to the question, it is difficult for us to talk about something that is happening on land. We certainly have the resources to be aware of all the ships that come into the Arctic waters, and we respond. We have officers trained in what is called port state control, and we can board those vessels.

Transport committee  The 100 miles was defined by the original enactment of the Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act, which was in 1970. That's where the 100 miles comes in. It was quite forward-looking, in anticipation of the Law of the Sea, which eventually allowed for jurisdiction out to 200 miles.

Transport committee  On average, there are some sixty ships that operate in Arctic waters, which may represent something like 130 to 150 voyages altogether. In the area we are extending beyond the 100 miles, in the eastern side, most of that area actually is very small patches that make it equidistant from the coast of Greenland.

Transport committee  Yes, I could address both. I believe you're referring to the Arctic marine shipping assessment, which is an initiative of the Arctic Council. Canada has participated in the development of that assessment. That assessment in fact is now being finalized, with a number of recommendations that will be presented at a ministerial meeting that is to happen at the end of April in Norway.

Transport committee  I would just mention that there is one project that is in fact still within the 100 miles, but it is very close to the border. In fact, we weren't quite sure whether it was within or outside, but that is a proposed project for exploration in the Beaufort Sea. But there is nothing else in that additional area.

Fisheries committee  The most important aspect of a stability booklet is in fact how the information in the stability booklet, which can be in a very foreign language to a fisherman, is translated in a manner that it does give the information to the person using it as to the conditions of the vessel in relation to loading, in relation to how the vessel leaves port, how much they can load, where they should put the gear, etc.