Thank you.
Deputy Premier, I also want to thank you for the effort you've made to be here with us today and for your very enlightening testimony.
I want to bring us back to focusing on the oil sands and the direct impact the oil sands may have on water.
We've heard a number of people testify concerning the coming health impacts, and I believe those comments were indicating their concerns that the primary source of the pollution is coming from the oil sands. We've heard testimony that there are naturally occurring contaminants from the bitumen, but this has been increased dramatically, they believe, because of the oil sands activity.
There was a question in the last panel: if the oil sands were to switch to in situ instead of open pit, you would not have the tailings ponds issues. One witness felt switching to in situ would not solve the problem. In situ, of course, will be dealing with about 80% of the resource, and about 20% of the resource would be mined by using the open pit. So the vast majority of that resource would be using a different technology.
Has the Northwest Territories had input as we move to this different technology, in situ? Has the Northwest Territories been involved with the RAMP program, which is involved with monitoring with different levels of government, NGOs, aboriginals, all this input, and industry, of course?
I want your insight on what role the oil sands play in pollution. We have transboundary pollution that can move globally, and the north is impacted quite severely when it comes to mercury. What are the major sources, and what role do you believe the oil sands play in that?
Thank you.