Thank you, Mr. Chair, no harm, no foul.
I want to focus my first question on the relationship between the NSS and economic development and jobs.
I was delighted to hear Mr. Smith talk about Hike Metal, which is a shipbuilder in Wheatley, not far from Windsor. They had a contract of close to $80 million to build 10 search and rescue ships.
This had a huge impact on that community. The president of that company, Mr. Ingram, was quoted as saying that it “had an immediate impact on an industry that was dying in Canada.” Those were his words.
That really helped to revive the market for small and mid-sized shipbuilders and communities. That contract not only supported the existing 2,500 employees, but it also created 10 new jobs in that community of Wheatley.
Can you talk about how the NSS has contributed to Canada's economy? How has it impacted jobs across the country?