Thank you, Mr. Blais. When you explain yourself like that, wanting more information, I think that's wonderful. I'm perfectly willing to share as much information as we have the time to share today, understanding the limitations on the time we have together.
Why are we willing to cooperate in the Arctic? Obviously we were awarded these exploration licences, which were granted by INAC. INAC is the federal agency responsible for administering these leases and putting these leases out for tender. These leases come out for tender and the companies bid on these blocks. We were awarded one in 2007; BP was awarded another one, in 2008.
We then have this narrow window of opportunity to collect the data we need to further our exploration activities. The collection of baseline environmental data is a requirement for submissions we have to make if we decide to apply to drill a well.
There's very limited scientific data available on the Beaufort right now. We use collaborations, not just in Canada, we use them globally. We use them in other parts of Canada as well, as a way of maximizing the amount of data available and maximizing the efforts of all concerned.
One of the things we particularly liked about the collaboration with ArcticNet was the ability to leverage the scientific expertise of ArcticNet with our own expertise. I think that relationship went very well, and I'm sure Monsieur Fortier can give more examples of that. It was a very positive relationship.
It's nothing unusual. We do collaborations—for example, we do collaborations with DFO, we do collaborations in eastern Canada and Alberta. For me, it's more of a normal way of increasing the amount of knowledge we can all gain, and it's within the public's interest. It's a critical way of maximizing the amount of information we have.
As I mentioned before, this scientific data then becomes public. If a company acquired the data, in what we call a proprietary manner—for example, if we funded all the data—then obviously we wouldn't be as keen to share that data with everybody. Collaborating takes away that proprietary overlay that's sometimes put on data and makes it publicly available.