Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I want to thank all the witnesses who are here today.
Last week, we heard from another first nations group, which provided us with a very relevant and interesting testimony. They said that, before conservation work can begin, we first need to agree on what habitat conservation is. The meaning of conservation could vary from one group to another.
It's important to see that there is a difference between private and public lands. We also need to see what those lands are used for. That changes our view of what habitat conservation should be.
In particular, you talked about the Athabasca River and your region. Could you give us some recommendations on what must be done to ensure adequate conservation of your land and habitat? For instance, you talked about how quickly the expansion of oil sand extraction is occurring, compared with how quickly habitat is being restored. You also talked about the fact that, following restoration, the habitat is no longer what it used to be.
You may go ahead and answer.