Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Gentlemen, Canada has three seas. That's important, and I liked one of your previous remarks to the effect that Canada had to be seen to assert its role.
I would really like to talk about the Arctic. We have a significant surveillance role to play, especially since we know that Russia is now much more aggressive. We have a monitoring obligation and have to be able to respond. That's also a waterway that will become more navigable.
What kind of control do we have over the Arctic? It is being said that new Arctic/offshore patrol vessels should be delivered between 2018 and 2024. In the meantime, can we ensure our sovereignty, defence and surveillance?
I was surprised to read in the notes that there have apparently been no ice-breaking vessels since 1950. Is that a significant shortcoming?