I'll just add that nobody likes to see the price variations and fluctuations up and down that we've had over the last few years. In our industry, we don't like to see it either, because it affects our cashflow and it makes things uncertain in terms of being able to plan forward.
But it works both ways. We know we're in a commodity business, and we know that prices go up and prices come down. In the last year, certainly, they've come down, and that's been a help to the manufacturing processors who said it was a hindrance when they were on the way up.
Also, having the markets sending those signals tends to send signals to alternative fuel developers. It makes some of the projects for biodiesel, wind power, and other alternative fuels more economic and allows them to ramp up their plans and production to be able to contribute to the energy pie in the future. It also makes things like shale gas and LNG much more viable. Even in Quebec, for example, we've seen possible shale gas developments in the Utica basin, as well as more of a look at LNG facilities in the province.
So I think the price signals there, although they're uncomfortable, tend to signal that either alternative fuel developments can become more economic, or people, businesses and individuals, can use less energy or have more incentives to use less energy. Last year, with the high prices for refined products, we saw throughout North America and even throughout Europe that there was a drop in the use of refined products in terms of gasoline and some heating fuels. So it works. In terms of looking at policies around the environment and policies around the use of fuel, to be able to encourage people to use less by having higher prices I think is a good thing.