Thanks very much, Mr. Chair.
Thank you very much to all the witnesses for being here and helping us work through this legislation.
I know this legislation and the issue of Sable Island is important to all of you. I also know that you have either read the transcript of our last committee meeting, or you tuned in live, or you read the speeches in the House. I know you're very well acquainted with what we've been discussing both at committee and in the House. I know that you also know that the NDP does have some issues with the legislation. As Mark Butler of the Ecology Action Centre pointed out, we are in a situation where we are having to make a choice. Do we pass this bill and ensure that protection of Sable Island? I guess the other choice is we don't pass it.
We weren't a part of the discussions for the MOU, for example. We weren't a part of making this deal.
I'll start by saying our preference is no exploration on the island, and we have an amendment to that effect. We'll see if it passes. At the very least, I think it's important to define what low-impact exploration is, because there is no definition in the offshore accord act or in the parks act. I was pleased to hear that the province supports that as well.
Minister Preyra, have you any other words of assurance that this is a good way to go for the province? There is a problem here with needing mirror legislation.