Thank you, Chair.
Thank you, Minister, and your officials, for appearing before us.
I want to return to the shipbuilding program. You indicated that the shipbuilding program is going exceptionally well, which is an idea not shared by many outside of the government. It has actually been described by most commentators as being on the rocks.
I want to return to B.C., to the west coast shipbuilding program for the non-combat vessels. Seaspan has been notionally awarded an $8 billion contract, but they have yet to indicate that they have the necessary capacity to fulfill the contract. There is some controversy brewing about how Seaspan can get to that point. They have until June of this year, I understand, to fulfill their requirements under the notional agreement before a formal contract can be awarded.
What are the plans for the Esquimalt graving dock? Are there talks under way whereby Seaspan or some other operator might acquire, through a long-term lease, the rights to operate exclusively or nearly exclusively at the Esquimalt graving dock?