Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I would like to touch on two things. The first one has to do with the mobilization of the public. The mobilization that we have seen in recent years in the area is simply extraordinary. It is not something you necessarily see everywhere.
To give you an idea of the scope of the mobilization, I would say that it is as if 40 per cent of the population of Montreal took to the streets to demonstrate against the construction of an incinerator in that city. Montreal’s population, if you include Montreal-Centre and Greater Montreal, is 2 million. Forty per cent of 2 million is a lot of people.
In the Baie des Chaleurs, 40 per cent of the population was mobilized and took to the streets, and that does not include the petitions signed in New Brunswick and Quebec. The level of mobilization was very high. What do you think?
The other thing is how the committee could assume its responsibilities in this matter; someone has to. Are you suggesting that Department officials be summoned to speak to us about their assessment of the situation?
I would like you to talk about mobilization of the public and what the committee should do in response to your testimony.