Thank you, Chairman, and my thanks to all committee members for making this day happen. I think it's extremely important for Canadians.
We had determined as a committee to look into the impact of the markets on the unprecedented rising in the cost of energy prices, together with the impacts on futures commodities in general. We assume the prices will continue to go up. That in itself is a concern, but we also recognize that the recent rundown in commodity prices, in particular with respect to crude, does not necessarily mean lower prices for consumers, as one would have expected, given what we've seen in the past.
I have three questions. I will ask one of each witness, if you don't mind, Chair.
Ms. Savage had referred to the Washington Post article.
Unfortunately, I have not had a chance to have this article, which I found on the Bloomberg.com website, translated. But with the committee's permission, I will distribute it. It may be difficult to have it translated because of the copyright.