Thank you, Chair.
Thank you, Minister, for being here today. I appreciate your appearing before the committee and giving us a briefing on the excellent work the government is doing on the natural resources file.
My questions to you are in the context my being an Albertan. As an Alberta MP, of course I'm very concerned with some of the developments that have happened lately when it comes to the export of energy from Alberta, particularly the decisions made with the Keystone pipeline.
In your opening comments, you touched on the need to diversify Canada's energy export marketplace. What comes to mind immediately is the Northern Gateway pipeline to take product from Alberta and western Canada—from any point in Canada for that matter—to the west coast.
Could you provide this committee with any updates on any of the work that's being done, or any of the needs your department has insofar as these important strategic economic initiatives are concerned going forward?