Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to make a return to an oral question that was asked by Mr. Barnabas on May 16th, on cost recovery for search and rescue in the Arctic.
Most costs for search and rescue efforts are incurred by the federal government. The Canadian Forces have primary responsibility for the coordination of national search and rescue arrangements, the conduct of air and marine searches and support search efforts of territorial search and rescue agencies. The Canadian Forces incurred more than two thirds of the expenses in responding to the specific incident the Member was aware of. The total costs of our resources were closer to $200,000, than the estimate of $500,000 given by the Member.
The Member's question does address the need to realize the best return for every public dollar. This includes maximizing all potential sources of cost recovery. My department is currently working with the departments of Renewable Resources, Economic Development and Tourism and Justice to determine the most appropriate means of recovering search and rescue costs. The RCMP and the Canadian Forces are also involved in these discussions. A working committee is in place to review issues related to search and rescue activities at the community level. The committee is considering arrangements that other polar countries have instituted to address problems such as the Member has raised, and it will report its findings to me.
I will endeavour to have recommendations to this initiative considered by Cabinet in time for the next season of Arctic expeditions, in the first month of 1997. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.