As I'm having trouble seeing the relevance of the testimony, except Dr. Schindler's on a review of the impact of the tar sands on water resources, I will be putting most of my questions to Dr. Schindler, although this is a topic of interest and I'm hoping we can pursue it in greater detail.
But one question I have for Ms. Farrell is this. If one were to do a proper cumulative impact study of the tar sands, one would of course also review the impact of coal-fired power plants. That is because coal-fired power plants, a large proportion of which are owned by your company, are the main source of electricity in Alberta, and the Keephills expansion is probably going to be used 100% for firing up the tar sands upgraders, if they are ever built in the Fort Saskatchewan area.
The intention, as I understand, is to draw water from the North Saskatchewan River. You clarified that the Keephills plant draws water from the North Saskatchewan River at a certain volume. My understanding is that huge volumes of water will be used by the upgraders and that some water is used in CCS. There has been huge controversy about the use of water by the coal-fired power plants, one of those being the Wabamun plant.
Can you confirm, Ms. Farrell, whether the Wabamun plant, which drew substantial water from Lake Wabamun, is being de-commissioned this year?