Industry committee  Thank you very much for your question. I'm aware of the fact that there was a committee and a survival committee established—

Industry committee  —and that it has involved a number of levels of government and that Minister Paradis had some interest in that particular activity as a minister from Quebec and for the particular region. I'm not privy to the conversation between Madam Mitchelmore and Minister Paradis.

Industry committee  I was not aware whether Minister Paradis met with the president of Shell Canada.

Industry committee  We certainly have provided information to the minister and to officials in government about this particular refinery and the refining industry overall and the oil and gas markets in Canada. That is our responsibility. As to the specific nature of their discussions, I'm not aware of what they discussed, which is what—

Industry committee  I am aware they met. I read it in the media a number of times, sure—and others, I understand. As to the specific date, I don't know what date it was.

Industry committee  What I'm saying is that the marketplace in Atlantic Canada and Quebec is fairly competitive and there are a number of different refineries and that the potential closure or the disruption related to this particular refinery is still within the limits of the capacity currently operating.

Industry committee  We're not aware of any decisions that have been made as to proceeding with the conversion, or any dismantling or any of the steps.

Industry committee  Thank you for your question. The answer to the question is yes, it is the Province of Quebec that has the authority and the regulations to permit that particular terminal conversion to proceed. The federal government does not have authority and the Department of Natural Resources doesn't have authority to provide the go-ahead on that particular proposal from Shell.

Industry committee  Thank you for your question. It is a hypothetical question. With respect to proceeding to the closure or the conversion, or anything related to that, it is a provincial jurisdiction. In this particular case, should there be a delay or should there be any uncertainty, given the excess capacity in the particular Canadian refinery marketplace, as well as the competitive petroleum import market in Quebec, the nature of the uncertainty would not cause the federal government to intervene under the Emergencies Act, nor under the Energy Supplies Emergency Act, as it would not appear, as I pointed out earlier, that the particular issue is a national emergency or of a national nature.

Industry committee  We have not met with any members of Shell. I imagine that if they said so, it was with ministry officials from the Province of Quebec.

Industry committee  We were not involved in any meetings with Shell and Quebec ministry of natural resources officials. I would imagine that the minister of natural resources in Quebec has review of this particular closure and has an evaluation under way that is looking at this particular case, and I understand that the minister needs to sign off on this particular conversion.

Industry committee  Thank you for the question, Mr. Petit. I'd have to say, at this point in time, I do not believe or I'm not aware of whether or not the minister in Quebec has granted authority to Shell to proceed with the conversion. I understand there's an injunction until September. I would imagine that the process is under way as to that particular undertaking, as the standing order for the injunction continues.

Industry committee  Thank you for your question. I will answer you in English. It's difficult to speculate as to whether or not any additional refineries in Montreal or the Quebec region or Atlantic Canada, or anywhere for that matter, will open or close. However, the refineries in the Quebec region generally operate with both domestic and predominantly imported crude oil.

Industry committee  There are costs shared by the different producers that source their product by the agencies and deliver them via pipeline. However, the degree to which that cost is a one-to-one cost or an equally shared ratio depends on a number of factors, some of which have less to do with the output and more to do with their particular contracting activities.

Industry committee  Again, I can't comment as to whether or not Suncor or any other related refineries will be more or less profitable given what happens with respect to the Shell conversion that's being proposed.