With the witnesses present, let us be under way.
The plan today is to hear from the Department of Natural Resources Canada for initial comments for perhaps half an hour, then go to questions. If you could keep your questions until after the initial presentation, there will probably be a bit longer to answer any concerns you might have.
We were thinking of going to about 12:30 p.m. with the witnesses, excuse them, then go in camera to discuss agenda items.
There is also a request from a hybrid vehicle company to the environment committee and this committee to do a test drive around Parliament Hill. I told them we needed more notice, but they happen to be in town for an environmental conference. So I will leave it to the members, if they're able to pull it off. We're working now at getting them on the Hill, or not. I'm thinking about a quarter to one. If people want to go downstairs and get a ride up to the Centre Block or somewhere, they can show you this vehicle for 15 minutes. But we'll know more about that as the meeting progresses. I wanted to say this may be something...and to make it available at your discretion, because of the short notice.
Let me first introduce Dick Fadden, the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources Canada, Howard Brown, and Frank Des Rosiers.
Perhaps I could turn it over now to you, Dick. You may introduce yourself and your colleagues a little more, and proceed with your presentation.