Fisheries committee  Ever in life....

Fisheries committee  Yeah, you never know, indeed. A very good question, but let's not get carried away because the coast guard spent its money. First, on the capital dollars—

Fisheries committee  Let me explain. First of all we have an A-base budget, which is composed of vote 1: budgets, salaries, and maintenance. We have a small budget at the coast guard for grants and contributions, of which we spent it all, almost to the dollar. It goes mostly to the coast guard auxil

Fisheries committee  I'll come back to the helicopter. First of all, we're told by Airbus Helicopters that we have the oldest fleet in the world now in the BO-105. It's the same thing for the Bell 212, which is frankly from the time of the Vietnam war, so the helicopters at the coast guard are extrem

Fisheries committee  We are going there about twice a year now, and we were there in November. We put in a cofferdam and whenever there is oil, we remove this oil. There is no long-term solution for now. We are assessing it as we go forward. But we don't want to see any oil in the water, so we're tak

Fisheries committee  There's no other long-term solution at this point in time, no. But should there be a risk, then of course we would envisage another option. But for now, to go there twice a year to empty the cofferdam is considered a sufficient measure.

Fisheries committee  No.

Fisheries committee  You said, “cut to the chase”. No, I don't have any concern.

Fisheries committee  Okay, so now we can elaborate. Every time there is a suggestion to make a change like this, we look at it very seriously, and in this case it was with the Atlantic Pilotage Authority and Transport Canada. The risks were assessed, and this situation of moving the station was acce

Fisheries committee  I'm not concerned at this point in time, but the pilotage authorities are under the authority of the Department of Transport. These are crown corporations regulated under the Pilotage Act, so your question would be more addressed through the Minister of Transport.

Fisheries committee  Yes, so at this point—

Fisheries committee  Not at this point in time, no.

Fisheries committee  That's a good question, and there is very good news, actually, for the coast guard. The coast guard operated 22 helicopters up until last fall, when we lost one, so we now have a fleet of 21 helicopters. The government has given us the funding required to replace the whole flee

Fisheries committee  Actually, these are to replace very old vessels, three old fishing trawlers, one in St. John's, one in Dartmouth, and one in Victoria. Of the $79 million, $63.6 million is devoted to these three ships, which will be built by Vancouver Shipyards.

Fisheries committee  I'll let Mr. Vermette answer this one.