Mr. Chairman, let me assure the honourable Member we are. I could say there is ongoing discussions and continuing dialogue but that sounds like a load of bureaucratic mumbo jumbo. The reality is that everyone is experiencing tough financial times. We have to be able to argue our point aggressively to seek our share of the pie. With respect to the small crafts harbours program, as the honourable Member knows, I am a strong advocate of that, it does bring about some support for the small fishermen. Discussions were under way last week with the Coast Guard in Yellowknife by the deputy minister in an effort to try and get

them to see why this infrastructure is important to fishermen and people who use it as tour operators.

To date, to be candid, we have not been very successful. As far as I can determine, my deputy tells me that one of the successes we have had is the Pelly Bay situation, where the hydrographic work was done there. We have upgraded two barge landing sites in Spence Bay and Gjoa Haven. The Coast Guard paid for these expenditures. I want to assure the honourable Member that I intend to address this particular financial expenditure again. We will have continued discussions with Transport Canada and the Coast Guard, but I also want to make it part of the transportation update and strategy because it was not as well laid out and explained, when I read the strategy, as I would have liked. I want to assure him that this kind of infrastructure is a priority in my eyes, particularly as it relates to the more isolated communities that are not on highways and road systems. Our success to date has not been particularly satisfying. Hopefully, in negotiations and in discussions with the appropriate political people, we will be more successful.