Public Accounts committee  Yes. In the world of digitalization right now, I think there's no other option. Not everybody who is on the water has a self-locating device, but they all have their cellphone. We need to make better use of that. For instance, if you see some oil in the water, how can you report it?

Public Accounts committee  We're confident that it will happen. If it doesn't, as we get closer to 2025, we'll be able to assess whether there's some slippage and come up with some interim measures, such as the ones we have in place right now. They worked well, with the three Swedish medium icebreakers and with the light icebreaker.

Public Accounts committee  Yes, sir.

Public Accounts committee  Yes, the project cost was $850 million, if I remember well, but we can give you—

Public Accounts committee  Fifteen years ago, e-navigation was a new concept that was being introduced. In Canada, we had some pioneers that were pushing it a lot. Through various program reductions, we had to dial back a little bit, but I am happy to report that we're back on top of the list of worldwide participants in e-navigation.

Public Accounts committee  E-navigation stands for enhanced navigation. Some people will think about electronic navigation. It's making sure that the mariner has the right information at the right time when they need it. They don't have to search. Everything gets funnelled through a single point. That's what e-navigation is.

Public Accounts committee  We have a really good relationship with the navy. We're meeting a few weeks from now for our annual staff meeting. Basically, we have a concept of operations for joint operations in the Arctic. The annual meeting is to review it and update it as required, but we're working hand in hand with the navy.

Public Accounts committee  No, our regional assistant commissioner up north is in the building in Yellowknife next to the JFT north, joint task force north, where our respective assets are. I have regular meetings with CJOC here in Ottawa as well. There are meetings at all levels of the organization on a regular basis.

Public Accounts committee  Well, I think we're not going to get a program icebreaker a year from now. I think the delivery date is scheduled for 2030, so we'll continue to progress on the construction and the negotiation with the shipyard on shipbuilding. On the MDA, I think we're making huge progress. I'd say that 10 or 15 years ago we were one of the world leaders in e-navigation.

Public Accounts committee  The feedback we have received from the navy is that they are much more efficient than expected. Typically we're up north from mid-June to the end of November, so I expect during that period we would be able to be there.

Public Accounts committee  We deploy six or seven ships every year in the Arctic. We actually had up to nine during COVID. At the end of November, when the ships come back from the Arctic, there's basically no more commercial traffic. Transport Canada regulates certain zones of the Arctic. Certain zones are closed to commercial traffic, so there's no marine activity beyond the end of November.

Public Accounts committee  The two polar icebreakers.... First of all, there are two, not one—

Public Accounts committee  We're doubling up on the design work. We want to make sure we have a complete design package before we go into construction. Everything is lining up to start construction, to cut steel, in 2025.

Public Accounts committee  The numbers identified are very small.

Public Accounts committee  That would be more for DND. The Coast Guard doesn't have that capability.