I appreciate that.
What I really appreciate are your comments around ensuring that we are not glib about this and that the serious work is put in instead. I take the point that there is serious and positive economic activity that will continue in the near term, no question, and I think certainly in the medium term. What I worry about, though, and what I appreciate about Jim Carr's effort here is looking ahead and saying that this is not going to be forever in terms of its positive impact on the economy in the same way. There is going to be an energy transition with or without us, and let's make sure we benefit as much as possible. Let's make sure we're creating as many jobs as possible in the course of that transition and try to focus the government's attention on the positive benefits of a transition for the Prairies, recognizing that there will be challenges for the Prairies with respect to fossil fuel development in the long term, certainly.
I guess what I want to emphasize to you and what I would encourage—and you can follow up in writing, by the way—is that I read this bill not as sort of a top-down exercise but instead.... Section 3 says “The Minister must...develop a framework to coordinate local cooperation and engagement in the implementation of federal programs”. That's saying to the federal government that you have to do the work locally to make sure the federal programs are successful. There's a mandatory obligation in subclause 3(2) on consultation, which says that as you go about developing the framework, you have to put the work in on consultation.
If there are particular sections or particular missing pieces that you think ought to be in here, you can follow up now, but you can follow up in writing too. I would appreciate it, because if the government's going to pursue federal programs, let's make sure there's coordination and co-operation at a local level and force the government to do that work as they implement federal programs.