Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Most of you are asking for breakwaters to be installed. Many times during the course of our hearings, witnesses have stated that dredging had to be done around the small craft harbours. I wonder if a study has been conducted on this.
I'm going to ask you several questions in succession since my time is limited. You can make note of them and answer afterwards.
I don't know if you're also obliged to dredge around the wharf. If this is the case, won't installing breakwaters just postpone the problem?
In fact, in light of the depletion of the cod stocks, are you going to have to resort more to recreational boats in order to justify your presence and continue providing services to your fishermen?
With respect to the fees levied on recreational boats, is there competition between your ports or is there an agreement under which the same price is charged everywhere? This way, there's no competition, and you can draw more income from recreational boats.
Mr. Curran talked about insurance companies that refuse to ensure recreational boat owners or fishing boat owners that put away their boats for the winter. Since you are aware of why they hold this position, do you know if you would be able to change this opinion held by insurance companies; in other words, could you provide them with an incentive to insure boats that are berthed during the winter?
I, for one, represent the Arctic coast and your concerns interest me greatly. Sometimes I say jokingly that I am the future. On the northern shore of the Arctic coast, we see things progressing. We are soon going to be grappling with the same problems that you have and it is going to be interesting to see how you resolve them. You will be our model.