Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I want to thank the witnesses for joining us today.
First of all, let me start by saying that earlier in the committee sessions, the Conservatives on the committee made a statement that they felt the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Government of Nova Scotia had been “hoodwinked” into supporting Bill C-49 and its amendments.
Can you tell me if you had full knowledge of what was going in this bill and what was an integral part of negotiating the terms and conditions of the bill, or were you in fact hoodwinked, as the Conservatives say?
I'll go to you first, Minister Parsons, and then to Minister Rushton.