Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
At our last meeting, the committee heard testimony that Canada does not have the capacity at this time to patrol the Northwest Passage effectively. Last week, EU parliamentarians from the NATO member countries stated their concerns over the need for NATO assets to assist in patrolling their allies' waters. So if we don't have the capacity as a nation to patrol the Northwest Passage and our territorial waters, they want to know if they're going to be required to help.
How would Canada's dependence on NATO for assistance and security affect Canada's sovereignty over our territorial seas, and how would it affect our chances for a larger portion of the continental shelf?