Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just to continue on from Mr. Julian's question to SDTC, your direct public funding is fully allocated. Is that correct? There is no more funding to be given at the present moment.
Okay, thank you. That's very interesting. It shows maybe the interest the government takes in sustainable development technology.
I was reading a speech by Roger Gibbins last night. He's the outgoing president and CEO of the Canada West Foundation. He was talking to young graduates at the University of Calgary and he says that the challenge of the past was securing a national voice for the west. He says that nowadays, this has been largely achieved. He says that today's challenge is finding a prosperous and respected place for Alberta within the global economy. And he raises some interesting questions. He asks what those challenges are. He says:
Simply put, although there is nothing simple about it, how will we take a provincial economy that is still heavily dependent on resource extraction and position it for success in the knowledge-based global economy? How will we ensure that Alberta's economy is tomorrow's economy, and not yesterday's economy? How will we ensure that Alberta will truly be “next year country"?
My colleagues from the wild rose country will know what “next year country” means. I've heard a lot of testimony here about the knowledge void as well as the commercialization gap, but I don't want to get into that.
Mr. Levy, you mentioned, for instance, that you need to have the basic information, basic indicators, in order to increase efficiency. Mr. Gray, there are two prominent researchers, Mr. Moore and Mr. Majorowicz, at your institution who are looking at geothermal and have suggested geothermal for pre-heating at in situ sites. Mr. Wamboldt, TransAlta's Poplar Creek cogeneration plant has increased efficiencies.
My question to you would be this: What's the next generation?
Generally, to all of you gentlemen, where can the federal government play a role in engaging and supporting the knowledge economy, particularly innovation in the energy sector?
It sounds to me as if just basic information is needed as a first step for us to move forward into the future, rather than continuing the regressive ways of the current government. Can you address the question, gentlemen, starting with Mr. Levy?