Fisheries committee  That's the problem, and of course in some of the areas that we have, there are massive dollars involved, and I don't believe the communities could ever take it over. But again, it's a DFO funding problem to put it in proper shape. All I'm fearful of is that when this goes through and they have to be designated, or should be, or could be, then the groups or community groups couldn't even look at them because they can't afford to do it.

Fisheries committee  Senator, when these lighthouses are petitioned and turned over, the ones that are not used for lights would become private property. Is that right?

Fisheries committee  None of them? Will they always remain under the jurisdiction of the Government of Canada? What is the intent?

Fisheries committee  So the fact is they will remain as public property?

Fisheries committee  Have you done any research into how the United States and other countries have handled this situation?

Fisheries committee  Now, you indicated too in your presentation that DFO has really no mandate and no money to deal with this issue at the moment. Am I correct?

Fisheries committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and welcome, Senator. Obviously, you've done a lot of work, and you are to be commended. How many petitions do you foresee coming in the next, let's say, five years? I think you mentioned the number 260 or 261 or 264 or 256. Is that the number that you feel...or is it a lot lower?

Fisheries committee  But they would have to receive it in the proper condition too.

Fisheries committee  Thank you, sir.

Fisheries committee  Do you have any idea of the dollars that would be required?

Fisheries committee  Thank you very much, and welcome. Mr. Hegge, before they're turned over or designated, will you have to bring them to a standard? Will that be the responsibility, and is this where you feel the shortfall in dollars is going to be? We have problems in Prince Edward Island where we have lighthouses as tourist attractions.

Fisheries committee  You're talking about 200-and-some that possibly could be in that area.

Fisheries committee  No, I can see your point. It's all on what designation they're in. When a lighthouse is going to be designated, do you feel they have the proper consultation in place to make sure you have somebody in the community who, when you receive or are in charge of the lighthouse, would keep it up to a certain standard?

Fisheries committee  What you're telling me is there'd have to be the proper allocation of dollars before DFO would be in support of this bill.

Fisheries committee  Do you have any idea how many lighthouses are in use now in the country?