Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I think the motion is quite appropriate. I'm not sure it is a given, because we've had some debate in the past about whether we look at it through the prism of sustainable development or responsible development. I think the way we're looking at the oil sands is really the way we should be looking at natural resources generally, and that's in terms of how we develop natural resources in a sustainable way.
We've even heard at this table debate about the idea that if you have a mine and a non-renewable resource...it's not sustainable. I think Mr. Peeling made a very good case. Over the next 10,000 to 20,000 years, the mine is probably going to be around.
We need to make sure we understand what we mean by sustainable development. I think this is very clear. It means we have to look at how we can develop our natural resources, but that development has to be environmentally sound.
We have to look at the social considerations as well. I think that's the way the committee operates, or should be operating, without necessarily articulating it that way. It's important to put it out the way Mr. Ouellet is proposing here, and I don't think it should cause us any great hardship.