Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I want to be really clear in my remarks. We've been given 16 hours to review this, a section of the bill, and in Minister Siddon's words, we can't erode 144 years of history.
Environmental assessment is about getting data, analyzing data, and making evidence-based decisions. Surely this has to be an evidence-based process or it will be seen as a failure, and this process is being very carefully watched. The report should include testimony or evidence, and real recommendations should be drawn from that testimony. If this process is not followed, we will no doubt have a report that's based on ideology or mere talking points. The reality is that this has to be given the time it needs. People will be able to read the testimony. They can compare the testimony to what could look like talking points.
If time is of an issue.... I know there is a deadline, but this committee does control its destiny. We need to take the time. We need to get it right. I don't want to just submit my ideas, and I would hope that all sides would not want to just submit their ideas, but that we would have a real report, we would draw recommendations from the testimony, and we'd take the time to do it right.
The way this is going, my guess is we will probably need a dissenting report, so I want to ask for that up front.
Thank you.