Fisheries committee  Yes, we'll do that.

Fisheries committee  Could I just seek clarification, Mr. Byrne? In the preamble you talked about the large capital budget the department has, but is your question specifically to small craft harbours, or...?

Fisheries committee  I think it goes back to my comments earlier in terms of the increased activity, if you will, at the fishing harbours and how we can best adjust to that increased activity. It does link into the role of the harbour authorities, and in fact the particular role of the department, so all of those considerations again are being reflected on in terms of developing various strategies we would like to go forward with.

Fisheries committee  The breakout of funding is based on a formula. There are five criteria, and I'm sure if I try to go through them, I'll miss one or two. I don't know if Robert has them at his fingertips, but I have them in another document here if he doesn't.

Fisheries committee  There has been considerable progress in terms of addressing various strategies to put this particular program on a more solid funding foundation. That has to be looked at--and I've alluded to this several times already--in conjunction with other funding pressures that this department is experiencing, whether related to the fishing industry or to other aspects of our mandate.

Fisheries committee  Yes, we have looked at the increasing usage of the harbours, for example, with respect to the aquaculture industry, first nations users, and other users of our harbours, which are creating increased demand on the infrastructure itself and in some cases arguing for increased infrastructure.

Fisheries committee  Taking into consideration some of the comments we've touched on in our presentation and in the discussion this morning, we're quite pleased with the contribution we get out of the harbour authorities. For one thing, it certainly saves us a number of employees that we would have to direct to the management of the harbours otherwise.

Fisheries committee  As you saw in terms of our budget situation, I think we have made considerable progress in divesting harbours. The numbers are in the presentation since 1994-95. Obviously, we have a number of harbours yet to divest, which we could move more quickly on if we had more money. In terms of the strategies we are looking at to address some of the funding problems of the program, we think we have a pretty strong case, if we had the money, to increase the pace of divestiture.

Fisheries committee  Thank you, Mr. Stoffer, for those questions. I will defer to Robert. Hopefully he can answer the one on Digby. I'll come back to your other questions.

Fisheries committee  With respect to your other questions, your first one on Nunavut harbours, I believe our deputy spoke to that briefly last year during one of the hearings. I don't mind telling you that we have been working closely with Nunavut officials on the requirement for small craft harbours in Nunavut.

Fisheries committee  From our studies, we believe that we need more than 35 million dollars per year in order to carry out all the repairs. And, obviously, the situation will worsen year after year if we have a deficit of 20 million dollars.

Fisheries committee  Generally speaking, I agree with you. I will ask Robert to add to my answer. We may be in agreement but we have already developed plans to correct the situation. We have received the support of the minister. This does not mean that we will get all the money that we need, but we are looking at strategies to solve the problem.

Fisheries committee  The support of your committee might help us. I believe that your committee did play a small role when went received an additional 100 million dollars, or 20 million dollars per year over five years. So, that might help.

Fisheries committee  Is that from our presentation?

Fisheries committee  Thank you, Mr. Blais. First of all, I have to say that the program is underfunded. You are right. However, it is well managed. We are trying to do our best with the money we have. I would not say that we have lost control of the situation -- those are your words -- but that it is obvious that we are underfunded.