I have a quick question.
Commissioner, your opening comments speak to trust, so I'd ask you to comment on this. You said today that “a significant first step was taken in 2003 when it was announced that the Coast Guard would become a special operating agency within DFO.” If we took that as a stand-alone, that would sound like a good thing. You have used the word “significant” a number of times today.
But the statement made by the deputy auditor general today said that, “for example, the coast guard developed a plan for a special operating agency”--which you took the bow for--“even though it did not have the resources it needed to implement the plan. Not surprisingly we found that many elements of this plan were unfinished well after the expected completion date.”
Now, this--because it's your statement--in conjunction with the issue that two of my colleagues have raised about it being a year over date, has happened during your time, sir. We want to have a comfort level that you're actually going to ensure that the promises made this time are really kept. Yet there are a couple of flies in the ointment already. Can you comment on the discrepancy between your bragging about what's done and then the deputy auditor general's saying today--in the same hour--that this was one of the problems? It somewhat speaks to our relationship with you and our trust level.