Good afternoon.
I would like to make one comment and ask you all one question.
QUEST advocates integration as a way to face the challenge of energy supply. However, there appear to be a number of differences between the provinces on the distribution of the costs of various forms of energy and also on the effects on the environment.
For example, for us in Quebec, most of the energy we use comes from hydroelectricity. It seems to me that, with the QUEST program, the federal government is moving into provincial jurisdiction. I would like to read you a section from Quebec's Act Respecting the Ministère du Conseil Exécutif:
3.11. Except to the extent expressly provided for by law, no municipal body or school body may, without the prior authorization of the Government, enter into any agreement with another government in Canada or one of its departments or government agencies, or with a federal public agency.
You can see my question coming. How can the federal government run the QUEST program? As Mr. Ydreos said himself, it needs the cooperation of the three levels of government. That is clearly encroaching into provincial areas of jurisdiction, something that is prohibited, in Quebec law, at least.
How do you see the role of the federal government as applied to the QUEST program?