Thank you for your question.
Of course, biodiversity issues, especially those related to right whales and southern resident killer whales, in western Canada, are very important. I was minister of Fisheries and Oceans in the past, and I worked a lot on those issues.
As for your question, we have always said that environmental processes should guarantee very strong environmental protections, but they should also be very effective. That is what the published ministerial regulations do. They establish a clear and effective process for assessing offshore exploration drilling projects in the Newfoundland and Labrador offshore area.
The regulations will guarantee that all drilling projects are consistent with high environmental protection standards by establishing clear rules and using existing scientific knowledge. We can protect the environment and provide certainty for industry.