Natural Resources committee  I can't really say why the Ocean Ranger recommendation, which was quite clear, was not adopted. I suspect it was because it was during the exploration stage. Then things changed; exploration ceased and about 15 years ago production started. When the Ocean Ranger happened there was no Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board.

Natural Resources committee  I'll need three or four minutes, okay?

Natural Resources committee  Where did I learn what had happened? It grew out of the Piper Alpha disaster when Lord Cullen made certain recommendations. Out of that came the concept, which was adopted in the U.K., and shortly afterward in Norway, of a separate safety entity, call it an authority, or what you will.

Natural Resources committee  I think it will, because when things are formalized in legislation, rather than being decisions of boards and people and operators and unions, they become very real and they must be followed and you can't depart from them. You can't depart from legislation that comes from the Parliament of Canada in these matters, so yes, I think it will make a difference.

Natural Resources committee  That's a good question. In a way, yes it is. Some of the themes that have come up in this legislation—and I suspect a lot of this was formulated before I became commissioner—are familiar to me because they came through the inquiry process. Yes, there are some things that dovetail.

Natural Resources committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and members, for inviting me to be here in front of the committee to talk about offshore matters generally. I've had an opportunity in the last three or four days to examine the bill. The bill is a complex piece of legislation. Somebody has worked hard—more than one person, I suspect—on this bill.