Thank you.
To begin, I have just a couple of comments. Thank you for being here.
You initially touched on carbon capture and storage, on the impacts of the direction in which Canada and the United States are heading, and on some of the transboundary water issues.
The two countries in the world that are proceeding with and investing heavily in that technology of carbon capture and storage are Canada, at a little over $3 billion, and the United States, at about $3.5 billion.
Also, with the clean energy dialogue that's ongoing with the new Obama administration--it's moving very quickly, preparing for Copenhagen in December but also on harmonizing an approach--Canada and the U.S. will be on a parallel path to meeting a number of environmental issues. I'm sure you're aware of it.
There was a question, I think, on what power this committee has. Our committee is on a fact-finding trip. We will debate, when we get back to Ottawa, what we've heard over the three days. The committee meets twice a week. The committee has a very busy agenda. We are scheduled to discuss the water issues and the oil sands in the fall. It may be the fall or it may be sooner; we'll see.
We hopefully will reach consensus. If we do reach consensus--there are diverse opinions around this table--then recommendations could be made. Those recommendations then would be forwarded on to the House of Commons, where it would be debated. Those recommendations could go to government for changes.
That's just in answer to your question.
I want to thank both of you for your presentations. They were thought-provoking. We'll see where we go from here.
Thank you.