Thank you very much, Mr. Don Young, member, National Energy Board.
Before we go to questioning, there are a few things I'd like to point out to members. I want to remind you that under the Standing Orders the questions are limited to questions examining the individual's qualifications and competence to perform the duties of the office sought. Those are the limitations to questioning.
The chair can and will interrupt if there are questions that I deem to be irrelevant to the examination of credentials and qualifications.
There are certain other questions which, under the Standing Orders, are considered not to be appropriate, but rather than my trying to make a judgment on that, I'll let it go to the members, and in their good wisdom they can decide whether they'd like to answer those questions or not. I'm not in any way going to try to restrict members from asking the questions they would like to ask here today unless they're not relevant.
Any question may be permitted if it can be shown that it relates directly to the appointee's or the nominee's ability to perform his or her duties of office.
I have a reminder, of course, and the reminder was already given by one of the gentlemen today. They simply wouldn't be free to answer questions on any hearing that has not yet been made public. This is a public meeting, so I just remind you of that.
With those reminders, we will go directly to questions and comments. We'll start with the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources, Kelly Block. Go ahead, Ms. Block, for up to seven minutes.