National Defence committee  It's a good point, a good question. Again, going back to the company that sent its vessels through the northern sea route, they have been able to take advantage of a willing and capable Russian ice ability. They're, as I said, actively engaged in trying to bring in more interest in this route so that they can start an actual freight route through this run.

National Defence committee  Well, I guess I can certainly wrap that up. I can get going. What we have to look at is what does Canada want to do in the Arctic? How do we want to make our presence felt? I would say mandatory requirements under NORDREG--or the northern reporting system for ships--inspections of vessels of opportunity or cruise ships that are going to move into the Arctic.

National Defence committee  It's a very good question, one that I would say many departments within the government are trying to wrestle out. I guess you have to look at the groups that are interested in what happens in the Arctic. I'm talking about Transport Canada, Environment Canada, the Department of National Defence, and probably several more that escape me.

National Defence committee  They say if you can't tie knots, tie lots. I'll start by saying that I would like to take this opportunity to thank this committee for giving me the chance to come in and provide a kind of industry-based opinion on matters of Arctic sovereignty, and indeed operations in Canada's Arctic, with an insight into operations in other jurisdictions and other operations in other areas.