Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I would like to begin by thanking Ms. Brunelle and Mr. Vincent for their candour. Indeed, they expressed exactly what they are feeling. We go into our ridings, and because people are fed up, we feel we have to do something, or at least, show them we are doing something.
There is a politician in Quebec by the name of Mario Dumont. He wants to show people he is doing a lot. He spends all his time talking about things he knows little about, and he ends up disappointing people.
The US government has just announced that it intends to conduct an investigation into energy price manipulation in North America. If we are so nonchalant as to believe that we can show leadership in this area, when this is a global problem, then we run the risk of disappointing the voters, who have high expectations of us. My feeling is that, when we start to see the results of the US investigation, we may realize that unacceptable behaviour has taken place in Canada and that US investigators are the ones who brought it to light. And, it won't be the first time that has happened. A fellow by the name of Conrad Black broke the law in Toronto, but is in prison in the United States. It will not be the first time that an American investigation has allowed us to find out what is going on in Canada.
However, I believe that it is our duty, because this matter is of interest to all of us, not to make people believe that we are going to resolve the problem. In my opinion, the only honest thing we could do at this time is to admit that we are powerless. Our duty is to closely monitor the work that is starting in the United States. As soon as we hear about things that concern us, we will have to pursue them mercilessly.
However, trying to make people believe that the House of Commons, or even the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology, can reassure the voters with respect to the cost of energy is pure fiction, as far as I am concerned.
Thank you.