Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would like to thank our guests for their presentation.
There are many ways to exercise sovereignty on a territory. The Russians used a rather odd way, by dropping a Russian flag into the bottom of the Arctic ocean in a titanium capsule. I'm not sure that that's the best way to ensure sovereignty over a territory.
Mr. Hébert, this question is more for you: what is Canada's strategy regarding its commitment to ensuring full sovereignty? For example, concerning the extension of the continental shelf, is that how Canada wants to show that the north belongs to it? For example, are there scientific expeditions being conducted to justify this extension?
It seems to me that we have solid arguments on our side. This also raises the aspect of mapping the seabed. Does DND participate in that? Are there scientific expeditions to map the seabed? Is that the strategy? There are other strategies. The idea is not just to drop a flag into the ocean; there are also maritime military patrols. Personally, I have never believed that we could win militarily against the American or Russian navies or against the American army. It seems to me that we need scientific and logical arguments.
Could you explain whether the continental shelf extension and seabed mapping are part of the strategy to assume full Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic at the present time?