Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Everybody's talking about being force generators today. Like Mr. Fisher, I was a former city councillor, and we always thought we had a role in force generation in enabling people to actually get to the base. We have an increasing problem at CFB Esquimalt in terms of transportation to the base, with the expansion of employment on the base and the shipyards.
I want to go back to Admiral McDonald on the question of the use of private contractors, the question of the new high-tech equipment that may be in the new platforms, and the claim that those companies have to do all the maintenance themselves in order to keep those functional. I guess I would add one more thing, that we're in the process of signing some trade agreements which would guarantee the right of non-Canadian bidders to bid on those contracts. Again, I'm asking you about the impact on our readiness and our security and our sovereignty of this use of private suppliers.