Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
People have come here to tell us that it might perhaps be a good idea for us to have resources to detect submarines in two passages in the Northwest, M'Clure Strait and Lancaster Sound. You don't necessarily see a submarine, but you can hear it go by; there is an audio signature. We can know whether it's a Russian, Chinese or British submarine. Do you think that would be a good solution?
I go to NATO meetings, where they increasingly talking about changes in arsenals. Today, the international arsenal doesn't consist merely of boats and aircraft. It's something else. We realize that Russia, among others, can use energy as a weapon against NATO countries and western countries. Moreover, it was said that certain things happened last winter when there was a dispute between the Ukraine and Russia: part of Europe hasn't been supplied for a number of months. The international community was wondering who was right. The Russians said that Ukrainians were diverting some of the gas, and the Ukrainians said that the Russians had actually shut off the valve.
On the diplomatic front, it's important to develop major energy sources. Negotiations are currently underway to determine how to divide the Caspian Sea, which is extremely rich. I went to Azerbaijan and I can tell you that the people there are very interested in those discussions. I very much like the fact that can be used as a weapon. The weapon that Russia is using can be turned against it. If it no longer has a supply market or a market to sell its gas, it will be stuck with that gas. When we talk about new arsenals, we can also talk about cyber attacks, of which Estonia has been a victim. Other things are currently brewing as well.
I think the solution lies in determining the limits of the entire continental shelf. Once the continental shelf has been divided, and everyone has respected the limits, a police force will be necessary to enforce the international decision. Will Canada do that only at home? Will the United States do it at home? There could be an international police department, such as NATO, that would be responsible for enforcing the international decision that could follow from a violation of the international treaty.