Thank you, Mr. Chair.
First, I want to thank our witnesses for being here. As the week has gone on, the testimonies have become more and more interesting, but I want to try to explain to you what it is that committee members have some influence on. It's clear that, when I say "some influence", it means that there's an influence hierarchy. We will make recommendations, and the government can answer yes or no to each of them. What I've seen so far are things we can have a minimum impact on. I've noted four of them, and I want to share them with you.
First, there's the structure. I imagine you know that it's people from National Defence who take care of aviation occurrences. As for helicopters, clearly it's National Defence that will take care of it. Now, when it's a maritime issue, it's the coast guard that comes in. When it's a land emergency, it's the provincial authorities that take care of it. I can tell you that we're in the process of looking at whether this is the best structure. Perhaps you can give us your opinion on that.
The other thing is the response time, namely, how long it will take a helicopter or boat to get going. We can start with the helicopter because it's one of the quickest modes of transportation. What we were told, and you're right, is that it takes about 30 minutes during regular hours, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. What you seem to be saying isn't normal is when it takes two hours. But what we were told is that we will need to double the number of aircraft and double the number of crews. There's going to be a cost attached to that. I'd like to hear your thoughts on who will pay for all of it.
The other factor is how fast we can get to the sites. So, if we're in a boat, it will take longer. If we're in a helicopter, it'll take less time, and if we're in an airplane, it'll take even less time. So, I want to remind you that we are in the process of pushing for a program in Ottawa, the Fixed-Wing Search and Rescue program. It's a $3 billion program that will be funded by all taxpayers. People are already telling us that they'd like to have these planes as much in Gander as here.
Lastly, I also have something to say about the location of services. Are they well located? I hear people who say, and this was repeated in the National Research Council study on fixed-wing search and rescue, that the location of services can be discussed. If we have people in Greenwood, is that a better place than Gander? We are a little caught up in it. You'll understand that we're getting slightly different messages depending on where we go.
I tell you, we're doing what we can, but the basic question I have for you is about funding. Is it normal that it's the Canadian government covering the whole bill? I understand that you can't put a price on someone's life, but we, as members of Parliament, have responsibilities, and we must look at where this money will go in the community. Besides, the choices that I make with my party are often different from the government's. But with regard to funding, is it normal that the oil companies—which I admire a lot because they are very, very rich—don't pay more than that? Are the provinces ready to go and see the oil companies, the mining companies that sometimes need rescue services, or companies that use search and rescue? Is there also a way for the private sector to give a part of it and do so correctly? Furthermore, the judge recently told me about the helicopters. He would like to see them in the air in about 15 or 20 minutes. It's the oil companies that should assume the costs. I agree with that, but I'll take it even further. Shouldn't the oil companies pay more for it?
Explain the funding to us. How do you see it? It's easy to say that the federal government will take care of it, but this isn't how it works at all. Sometimes, it's important to also look at private and public funding.
I am sure that the chair of the committee will be happy to hear this, but I must quickly give you the floor if I want to at least hear the beginnings of an answer.