Finally, Mr. Chairman, the Small Boat Safety Program provides water safety information, courses and education for all recreational boaters and school children in the North. The committee was concerned about reductions to the territorial government's small boat safety program. Committee members had also expressed this same concern during review of the department's 2001-2004 business plan. At that time, the department had replied that it was working with the federal government to get the program out to more people.
The department updated the committee that responsibility for small boat safety will be a federal responsibility under the Canadian Coast Guard effective April 1, 2001.
The department will continue to be an active partner in this program. The department added that no O and M expenditures would occur without prior discussions with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard. That concludes the committee's report for the budget for the Department of Transportation, Mr. Chairman.