Thank you, Mr. Chair.

First of all, let me say that I support this committee in undertaking a study into this decision and into the shipbuilding agreement that's been struck by BC Ferries, but I think it is disappointing to see our colleagues opposite making very familiar political points and using as a whipping post what is, in fact, a critical piece of infrastructure in our province of British Columbia. While, perhaps, some of the colleagues—particularly those, I note, who are from the province of Ontario—may be less familiar with the critical role that BC Ferries plays in supporting B.C.'s coastal communities, this is a service that is, very unfortunately, being played politics with currently and being made to feel the brunt of long-standing concerns and talking points that our Conservative colleagues have made before.

In this instance, they're also, seemingly, prejudging the outcome of the witness testimony, which we look forward to hearing in our next meeting. It really is premature for many of the conclusions the members opposite are drawing to be raised in this fashion rather than waiting, in good faith, for the expert testimony and for the leadership of BC Ferries and the ministers in question to actually have an opportunity to speak to this committee and to the concerns that have been raised, and to explain very clearly for us why it is that Canadian shipyards are currently at capacity. Based on the national shipbuilding strategy, they were unable to offer cost-competitive bids to provide these ferries.

I look forward to my Conservative colleagues' defending why they think it is that the electrification of British Columbia's ferry fleet and the expansion of this vital service for coastal communities is something for which the Conservatives would seemingly endorse spending billions of dollars more and waiting decades longer to receive those replacement ferries.

We need to hear this witness testimony and have the opportunity to reflect on the questions that have been raised, but I encourage my colleagues to stop using BC Ferries and B.C. coastal communities as punching bags and making points we have heard before, which, frankly, do not serve Canadians or the public taxpayer properly in this instance. Let's let the evidence be raised and the witnesses speak, and then let's pass our conclusions about how to proceed and what the federal government can or should perhaps do in future situations of this kind. We support this study but, please, let's have a little less foghorning from the members opposite.

Will Greaves