Madam Chairman, the Canada search and rescue capability involves a number of agencies in the north including the Canadian forces. In fact we are the lead department in this case. DND co-ordinates search and rescue on behalf of the Government of Canada overall and we use a number of resources, including those from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the RCMP and the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association, which involves volunteer civilian aviators.
While we cannot predict the number and types of incidents that may occur, the forces have the capability to respond to a wide range of search and rescue operations across the country including the north. We do have the rangers there and we are putting in additional money to expand that.
I might add that this is the 60th anniversary of the rangers. They go back to the World War II era. They celebrated their 60th anniversary by taking an expedition up to the magnetic north pole. I was very pleased, as was the Prime Minister I am sure, to talk to them by phone on the occasion of their reaching the magnetic north pole.
We also have contingency air plans for any major air disasters and plans for search and rescue. These kinds of possible disasters are always being tested and upgraded ensuring that capabilities exist for us to respond in a proper fashion.
Would I like more money for the north and for the rangers? Yes. Remember the defence updates, and those are some of the issues that we will have to look at.