To answer Mr. Asselin's specific questions, we take a very transparent approach with port authorities and users when it comes to sharing the information we have about the facilities, the priorities and the reasons why we sometimes make one decision rather than another. This can also be done in the context of the committee's study. The department will have to see how it can coordinate everything to give you specific answers to your questions.
As far as I am concerned, the information is known. There is no doubt that we are very familiar with our territory and the state of our facilities. We are able to explain the direction we want to take for the benefit of commercial fishers, to give them the best possible service.
In the case of projects such as the one at Rivière-au-Tonnerre, in my opening remarks, I said that the maintenance deficit was increasing all the time. The crux of the problem is the rate of recapitalization and it is a problem we face at various levels in Quebec. With respect to the rate of recapitalization, that is the money available to the department for major investments of over a million dollars, given that our facilities are between 25 and 35 years old and are at the end of their useful lifespan, it is going to take several decades to do all the reconstruction work required in Quebec.
If we keep the current rate of recapitalization, we will definitely experience more and more safety and accessibility problems. They are going to increase, because the infrastructure does not necessarily deteriorate in a linear fashion. The process speeds up over time. These are factors that need to be taken into account. If arrangements are made with the department, we can discuss some of these situations and explain them in detail for the benefit of committee members.