Thank you, Chair.
Thanks to all of the witnesses for being here today.
Justine, thanks for setting the record straight on oil and gas, and on Alberta. I want to thank you for being here on behalf of your family and your various businesses. I hope that you get the chance to deliver more of your messages to combat these myths about both Alberta and the Canadian energy sector—we have much to be proud of.
Mr. Orb, I entirely agree with your point about the uniqueness of our provinces. As a rural MP, I'm quite confident that you've certainly summarized what I would expect to be the universal, overwhelming majority view of elected rural representatives right across the province of Alberta.
Time being what it is, I will focus my questions on Dr. Bewick. Thank you for being here today to participate.
I have to say, it's pretty wild to hear a former Liberal minister supporting another former Liberal minister's initiative seven years into an existing government about the importance of consulting the Prairie provinces. This is while talking about initiatives that have of course already all happened without the need for this one-size-fits-all, “Ottawa knows best” bureaucratic framework.
Dr. Bewick, I agree entirely with the point you made that this bill is fundamentally insulting to Albertans. I wonder if you might want to expand on issues around fracturing national unity and western alienation, which have been a consequence of this government's anti-energy legislation and regulation. Perhaps you want to share some thoughts in that context about this bill. Also, do you have anything else to say about Alberta and Canadian oil and gas being leaders in environmental stewardship?