No, Mr. Chair, but that's a very good topic to discuss.
First, you started by saying that we're seeing an increased presence and extra attention being paid to the coast guard. I give the credit for that to this committee and some of the people around this table. I believe it was the major study that was done. There are people here today from both sides of the coast guard. We have the commissioner, and we have the head of one of the major unions in the audience. These people realize that it was a collective effort. We had very good cooperation as we went around. People came forth and laid their cards on the table. Our report to the government and the push we made collectively got the ball rolling, and we've been able to keep it rolling.
As we said then, the coast guard in this country is an icon, one that has tremendous potential. We have actually increased our presence on the Nose and Tail and the Flemish Cap. In the meantime, we are increasing our presence generally. Right now, we have eight smaller boats that are going to be built. Some are in Canada. We have some larger boats being built.
When we talk about armed presence, this is not from our shop or from coast guard; we're hearing that from DND. Let me just say that all of us collectively--and I'm not just talking about government members, I think I speak for everybody here--realize we need to strengthen our presence in the north. But we don't need to reinvent the wheel about what's needed. We can actually pull out a map that shows, as we speak today, seven or eight icebreakers in the north that are doing the job in relation to the communications challenge, the search and rescue, and scientific work. The coast guard is called upon to do an awful lot. We can do a lot more.
I don't see any plan of attack from the north, certainly not in the near future. But if we need a presence at any one time, working with DND to coordinate activities and maybe using some of the coast guard boats can easily be done.
Basically I'm saying yes, we need a presence, and we will have an increased presence. If the north is going to be opened up and developed, I believe the coast guard has a major part to play. But this is an add-on. Some of the money you see here, such as $275 million-plus for repairing the fleet and moving forward, is not to replace or substitute anything; it's to enhance. Certainly as long as I'm around anyway, the attention being paid to the Nose and Tail and the Flemish Cap and offshore Atlantic Canada won't be lessened.