Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Certainly, thanks to all of the witnesses who are here today as we take a look at subsidizing different aspects of...or federal assistance into our natural resources.
If you don't want oil and gas from Canada, you do your level best to demonize it around the world, but I want to take the opposite position.
We do have this abundance of natural resources. We've been leading the way globally with clean technologies and advancement in the oil and gas sector. I think people should realize that 75% of the clean technology investments in renewables come from our oil and gas sector. It's because they are understanding that they are energy companies; they're not just oil and gas companies. I think that's the important part of it. You can't promote renewables unless you advocate for a responsible hydrocarbon industry. I think that's really the critical part of it.
Mr. Helin, I appreciate your work. I spent many years on aboriginal affairs and northern development. I've read your book Dances with Dependency, and I've also seen the work that you've done with first nations.
I'm wondering if you can speak briefly to what needs to be done by governments in order to give opportunities to indigenous communities, specifically looking at the red tape and regulatory burdens that your industry faces. What are the biggest culprits and the main things the government could do to get more investment to come to Canada so that you can be engaged with that?
You did mention before that one of the key components and one of the key problems that exist, of course, is that, quite frankly, environmentalists don't know what is best for indigenous communities, nor do all industry leaders know what is best. We need to work together to get past what I call “environmental colonialists”, which you call “eco-colonialism”.
I'm wondering if you can lay out your vision and some of the frustrations you have with the way in which your industries and the opportunities for your people have been challenged over the last number of years.