First of all, I would like the opportunity to answer the previous question, but I will provide you a perspective on this particular question.
The Alberta industry has not been a strong supporter of the loan guarantee program, although we do not object to it either. It is clear that during the course of this dispute many companies in Canada have undergone significant economic hardship. While we don't advocate the loan guarantee program, we would not stand in the way of such a program that ensures that Canada is kept whole throughout this tough period of time.
I'd like to go back to the previous question on the rush of the finalization of the deal. Without repeating what my colleagues have indicated, I just want to say this is the most complex deal we've ever had. We're dealing with two separate options and whether or not you have market share with each option. There are two different periods to determine the actual market share. We're dealing with a lot of complexities, whether it's retrospective or prospective.
All of these things need considerable time to determine their economic impact on our industry. The issue we have, ladies and gentlemen, is that we are not being given any time. We cannot get back to our industry. The conference calls that have been organized...basically we're being told this is the way it is. That is not consultation.
What I have suggested over and over again for a long period of time now, long before this framework was agreed upon, is that we need to get the industry across Canada together and work with the federal government in putting these details together. It's absolutely important.
We are the ones who are impacted by the details of this deal. We're not opposed to the deal. We want to have our concerns addressed in a meaningful way, and we need to be at the table. If that means we're on an accelerated timetable, as we have been told, then so be it. We'll take the necessary week or two, go down to Washington, sit down with our federal counterparts, and negotiate the best deal for the Canadian industry, not just some segments of the Canadian industry. I have to make that point, because currently we are not being involved in that consultation process adequately.
Thank you.