Minister, thank you for taking time out from your busy schedule to be with us today.
I couldn't help but notice that you did not make reference to the national shipbuilding procurement strategy, or NSPS. In his recent report, this is what our Auditor General had to say about the NSPS, in three notable quotes.
First:
We concluded that...[the] NSPS...should help sustain Canadian shipbuilding capacity and capability. In addition, the NSPS should help the government to procure federal ships in a timely, affordable manner, consistent with the build-in-Canada shipbuilding policy.
Second:
We also concluded that National Defence and PWGSC—in consultation with the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat—are, to date, managing the acquisition of military ships in a timely and affordable manner....
Third:
We found that PWGSC implemented adequate controls, including an effective governance structure, over the selection of the shipyards....We would encourage PWGSC to consider using this approach in other future major capital acquisitions.
This is what the Premier of B.C., Christy Clark, said this means:
Thousands of high-paid jobs, people who are going to be able to support their kids.... I think it's so important because it's not just one generation. It's going to be multiple generations that are going to benefit from this.
Even our beloved colleagues in the NDP are quoted as saying something about it. I quote former deputy speaker and former MP Denise Savoie, who said that she couldn't have better news for her region in terms of good jobs, especially at this time in the economy.
Peter Stoffer said:
...the significant economic benefits of building ships in Canada, including the creation of approximately 15,000 jobs and economic spinoff benefits of $2 billion a year.
Mr. Chair, through you, I would like to ask the minister if she could possibly comment on why the government's national shipbuilding procurement strategy is good news for the shipbuilding industry and also good news for the Canadian economy.