Yes. At any rate, he's here somewhere, Peter Stoffer from the NDP.
Last fall we began a study into the small craft harbours program. Basically this is a continuation of that. In Ottawa we received witnesses, including Bill Goulding here from Newfoundland and Labrador, plus several other people involved in the small craft harbours program across the country. We also heard from the national advisory of harbour authorities in Ottawa, and some other witnesses.
Basically our goal is to establish a report, present it to the House of Commons, and look for an enhancement to the small craft harbours program. That includes not only marine infrastructure, such as wharfs and so on. If, as members of harbour authorities, you think there's a need for training.... And you're volunteer-based, so if, as volunteers, you think there's something we could put in the report on ways of enhancing the harbour authority program itself, and the way you're set up, any and all things are open for discussion that have to do with harbour authorities.
The purpose of our trip, which we've started here today in Newfoundland and Labrador, is to travel around to talk to people like you, who are involved in harbour authorities, on the committees. We want to hear from you, and we also want to give an opportunity to the members of our committee to ask you some questions. We will be travelling to Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and we finish up in Quebec on Friday evening.
I certainly want to thank you for your appearance here today. I realize that many of you may not have gone through this process before. Don't feel in any way nervous. It's just like sitting around and having a chat with the boys--and the lady.
You'll see some people around. These are people who assist us with our work. Our analyst is François and our clerk is Julia.
We also have interpreters here. In Newfoundland and Labrador, it's very important that we have interpreters, because sometimes they have a job to follow what I'm saying. Now that I have a few of my colleagues here from Newfoundland and Labrador, I'm sure it will be a wee bit difficult at times. As well, there's interpretation going on at the same time as you're speaking. Sometimes they tap me to slow down, so I'll have to do that sometimes with you too.
What I'm going to do now is ask you to do some opening remarks. Introduce yourselves and what group you represent, and then make a few comments about the small craft harbours program, harbour authorities, whatever you like, and then we'll open up the floor for questions by the committee members. We'll run this for a little over an hour. If there's anything that you feel you want to add, this is your opportunity to do so.
Once again, I thank you for your presence here.
We'll open the floor with Mr. Donald Drew.