Fisheries committee  That was in my opening remarks. What I was referring to, Mr. Chairman, was the fact that we do maintain two patrol vessels on the nose and tail of the Grand Banks on an ongoing basis. That presence has made quite a difference in our ability to achieve real reform in NAFO and real enforcement.

Fisheries committee  Well, sometimes it's three, because of crew changes and so on. But I'm saying that since the funding was provided, thanks to, among other things, the recommendations of this committee, to the tune of $75 million over five years, we have generally been able to maintain a continual presence there and have usually had two vessels.

Fisheries committee  If I could add a point of detail in terms of fleet renewal, the $276 million deals with four midshore patrol vessels and two new fishery research vessels. There is also approval for I think approximately $125 million for four additional midshore patrol vessels.

Fisheries committee  Yes. Those would be operated jointly by the Canadian Coast Guard and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for maritime security purposes. What I'm saying is that although the first part of fleet renewal is the $276 million, in fact there are four other patrol vessels moving along in the same timeframe.

Fisheries committee  Yes, they are. The four that will be used for classic conservation and protection work by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans are part of the $276 million. Four of the same types of vessels with whatever minor modifications required for the work with the RCMP are moving forward as part of maritime security money that the governments have authorized.

Fisheries committee  Okay. Sorry. The well-founded criticism of some management practices and a lack of satisfactory progress on previous audits, which the Auditor General has delivered in a measured and very effective way, is deserved. However, it is also important to recognize that the men and women of the Canadian Coast Guard deliver excellent operational results, whether in marine search and rescue, consistently maintaining NAFO patrol vessels on the nose and tail of the Grand Banks 365 days a year in all weather conditions, responding to unique emergencies such as the highly successful Hurricane Katrina relief operation in the Gulf of Mexico with the ship, the Sir William Alexander, whose control systems were designed for operation in cold northern waters, or routinely maintaining six to eight ice breakers in the Arctic for six months a year, despite always-present technical and logistical challenges.

Fisheries committee  Thanks very much, Mr. Chairman. Like Madam Fraser, we welcome the opportunity to be here, particularly with the Auditor General. I'm joined, as you mentioned, by George Da Pont, the commissioner of the coast guard, and Charles Gadula, the deputy commissioner. As you probably know, Minister Hearn issued a statement following the tabling of the report in which he fully accepted the findings of the Auditor General.

Fisheries committee  Mr. Chair, we'd be happy to work with the clerk to come up with some kind of reporting format and sequence or timing that would work for the committee. I think it's quite important.

Fisheries committee  My view is that the frustrations the committee experienced would really be welcomed in terms of improving the document, because the document is produced for your use. If it's not useful, it should be fixed so that it is. We should try to improve the document according to those kinds of comments and the discussions we had a few weeks ago, so that we have discussions about facts.

Fisheries committee  Part of the challenge the department has faced for the last few years is actually living within our means while addressing recommendations coming from various sources. Certainly this committee has been quite vocal in making known the needs of the coast guard, the need for fishery officers, the need for science and scientists, and so on.

Fisheries committee  I think that's an excellent question. It is a concern. We are trying to move forward with integrated oceans management. It is happening across the country, and there's buy-in from all levels of government, communities, and stakeholders. We have to maintain the momentum. You correctly indicate that the current funding for phase one of the oceans action plan is terminating.

Fisheries committee  No, I don't think it was inappropriate. I don't know how many MOUs I've been involved with over a 43-year career, but I don't recollect bringing each and every one of them--in fact, I don't remember bringing any of them--to parliamentary committees for approval. I think the initiative is very--

Fisheries committee  We had every intention of keeping the committee in the picture on vessel safety. The minister has been very clear on this. The minister's direction has been very clear to the department that we need to put a focus on this MOU as a direct result of that direction. The committee's interest in this area has been extremely helpful, but certainly it was not in any way, shape, or form my intention or the department's intention to somehow not inform the committee.

Fisheries committee  I met with the same group. The video is wonderful, and we're working with them to actually provide it more broadly. In terms of the actual protection, we did provide fisheries restrictions in the area in 2002. We expanded it in 2006. We're working with them and others. A marine protected area is one vehicle.

Fisheries committee  We would need to prepare a submission. The submission would express estimates. The estimates that were given last week are the department's estimates of what is required to run a program of 750 core fishing harbours, plus seven new harbours in Nunavut, and to effect divestiture of the harbours that need to be divested within a five-year period of time, a reasonable period of time.