Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to all of the witnesses who are here today.
As a politician and a person from Alberta, listening to some of the commentary I've heard here this morning gives me somewhat of a pause. I think about the amazing things that have been done environmentally in my province, and I try to look to the future as a world where we are looking at lithium pit mines and all of the other types of things that will be required in order to meet the government goals, whether they be in 2030, 2035 and so on.
I do believe that those people who are suggesting that we move as quickly as possible have their hearts in the right place and that they feel that this is something that will be useful. Sadly, if you think that your community and those of us who are members of Parliament.... If you think that in your community an open pit mine is going to be welcome, I think we're missing the point.
If people want, perhaps they can go up to Fort McMurray and take a look at what an open pit mine looks like after 40 years of reclamation. If that's what's going to happen in this country, then it'll be great for everyone.
I think the war in Ukraine has brought into focus a real energy dilemma, and there's a real dramatic shift in energy security as the world is no longer looking at the future through green-coloured glasses.
I want to speak specifically to EDC because I have been on international trade meetings throughout the world, and we have talked about how our businesses and our energy are able to help those people in places where they need to have a strong, functioning product so that they can do what is necessary to improve their lives. If Canadian energy is blocked from these markets, I'm sure that your offices in EDC would know what other countries will fill the void.
What type of strategy do you have such that it removes our ability to supply ethically produced and managed hydrocarbon products just to have these products replaced by other players?