I just think it really stretches credibility to suggest that an additional cost to the oil sands producers on the order of $1 a barrel would be in any way punitive or would somehow get us away from a balance between environment and economy. We heard from Gord Lambert that the production cost is $20 to $30 a barrel. I'm not sure what the price is currently, but I think it's been in the fifties and sixties recently. Clearly there are enormous profit margins in this industry, and it's very difficult to see why $1 a barrel would be a dramatic shock to anyone.
On February 20th, 2007. See this statement in context.