Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I would like to thank Messrs. Irving and Kerr for appearing on such short notice.
You have just confirmed my worst fears about the bill currently before our committee. We can't blame you for exploiting fossil energies and being polluters involved in oil or shale gas, which are found in Quebec. While I have a lot of respect for those two industries, the truth is that they are not exactly getting good press.
You are an industry leader in the field of renewable energy in Canada. Hydropower is our greatest resource, especially in Quebec.
Your testimony is crystal clear, if you'll forgive the expression. You pull no punches. You're already saying that this bill could compromise hydropower projects. There are several projects currently under way in Quebec, and we'd like to have more. You say that it normally takes 8 to 14 years to carry out a hydropower project, and that this bill would introduce a level of uncertainty. Unless I've misunderstood, you're saying that this period could become even longer. Did I understand you properly?