Mr. Chair, I'm inclined to support the amendment, and for a couple of different reasons. I've read the draft report, and one thing that strikes me about it is that there are lots of “ifs”--if production gets here, if this gets here. Before we make any recommendations in this report, one thing we could have is context as to what some people think in terms of where we're going with this and what may be the best case, worst case, and most probable case with regard to development. It would seem to me that this group that was set up could possibly shed some light on that one thing.
Second, what was the idea behind setting up the security and prosperity partnership? When the ad hoc group of oil sands experts was set up, what was the political will to set it up then, and is the political will of these two new ministers still there to have that group in place in the long term? If it is, are they doing something that could be counter to what we would recommend as a committee?
Thank you.