Mr. Speaker, last Tuesday in the Standing Committee of Fisheries and Oceans, Mr. Turner, acting director for the coast guard, indicated that in no way would there be $55 million worth of cuts to the coast guards.
In Saturday's Daily News , Neil Bellefontaine, regional director for Atlantic Canada, said that they were close to reaching their goal of $45 million in cuts. Commander Turner also indicated that close to $200 million had been diverted from the coast guard into DFO. What a wasteful move that was.
My question is for the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. Are you or are you not going to privatize the coast guard in the very near future?