National Defence committee  I'd just like to make the point that there are some in this world who believe there's no such thing as a good tax and that there's something wrong with the concept of taxation. Let's face it: we can't have things like adequate search and rescue facilities in this country unless we're going to accept that there has to be taxation that has as its purpose to raise funds to provide necessary services--and in particular in this case, emergency services.

National Defence committee  Well, if at all possible, obviously, somebody wants to get a mayday out; that's not always possible in every circumstance. But I don't have advice for harvesters. They know more about that than what I have, other than I think this has to be registered: look at those numbers, the fatalities.

National Defence committee  Well, I might not be the least qualified on the subject of the technical workings of EPIRBs, but I'd probably be on a short list. I think what's really needed, as I understand it.... A lot of the vessels, certainly the larger ones, the ones you just made reference to, are out for several days at a time.

National Defence committee  Thank you and good day to the committee. I'd like to express my appreciation for the opportunity to present here today. I'll try not to be redundant with regard to the comments just made. It certainly was a presentation with which I was in substantial agreement. Our union represents about 11,000 fish harvesters in the province in about 4,000 fishing enterprises, most of which are small boats under 65 feet in length, so the search and rescue facilities are of the utmost importance to these people and their families.