Thank you very much.
One of the things that puzzled me about all the testimony today from both our panels was that little or nothing was said about jobs, economic development, and the importance of people having incomes.
I used a phrase in the last meeting that if someone has a livelihood, they have a life. I think it's important that we focus on jobs and economic development, but all done in an environmentally sound way.
Just for the panels' benefit, I'm a fisheries biologist and spent my whole life and career involved in environmental assessment and conservation. However, I represent a natural resource constituency and again, just for review, the natural resources sector—I'm quoting from a study here—“accounts for 13 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and 50 percent of exports. When spinoff industries are added, the contribution of natural resources to GDP jumps to nearly 20 percent. About 950,000 Canadians currently work in natural resource sectors, and another 850,000 workers, spread across every province and territory.... Combined, this amounts to 1 in 10 jobs in Canada. In addition, the energy, mining, and forestry industries provide over $30 billion a year in revenue to provincial and federal governments,” providing all of us with the public services that we so greatly need.
My first question is to you, Ms. Lepine. We had testimony from Fort McKay Chief Jim Boucher. I should let you know I spent time in the oil sands, I worked on the Kearl project close to Fort McKay. It was pointed out in this article that Fort McKay has a zero unemployment rate with members enjoying average annual incomes of $120,000 and financial holdings in excess of $2 billion thanks to its willingness to do business. Also, the Mikisew Cree, I guess, have just purchased 15% of a Suncor facility.
Isn't this a major success story to be celebrated by your community? I think you've done remarkable work here based on these numbers.