Good afternoon, everyone. It's good to see everybody back.
We are of course doing a study on energy security in Canada. The committee began the study a few months ago. We're looking at what the federal role is in unconventional oil and gas development, such as deepwater offshore drilling, shale gas exploration, and oil sands development. We're also looking at the regional economic impacts of the oil and gas development on conventional oil and gas, and at the National Energy Board's role in the development and export of unconventional resources. Today we are looking at the shale gas component.
We have with us today, on our one panel, three individuals. We have Dr. Gerry Angevine, a senior economist from the Fraser Institute, and Dr. Anthony Ingraffea, Dwight C. Baum Professor of Engineering from Cornell University.
Professor Ingraffea's flight was cancelled this morning, so he will be with us by video conference. If he isn't on...we'll have until the others have presented, so we'll have him last in the group.
As well, we have the Honourable Bruce Northrup, Minister of Natural Resources with the Government of New Brunswick. He's appearing by video conference from Fredericton.
Welcome, everyone. We'll get right to the panel. We have just one panel for the full two hours.
We'll start with Dr. Angevine, please, for up to ten minutes.