Thank you, Chair.
Thank you to all the witnesses for being here and making clear the truth that Conservatives have always known and stood up for: The gift and the promise of Canada is in “all and every kind” of energy, rather than the “either-or”, isn't it?
I would just make one point, though. Canada, from your perspective, Brett, may have missed the boat on many of these technologies, but Alberta, of course, hasn't; it's been home to the largest and oldest commercial wind and solar farms in the entire country for decades. This was mostly done in our province through the private sector by oil sands and pipeline companies.
I want to thank you all for talking about the full spectrum of energy and its importance in creating jobs and its community contributions. The Canadian Association of Energy Contractors say Bill C-5 is a “first step”, which is, of course, why you all know that Conservatives helped improve and pass it last year. However, they said broader reforms—as you touched on—to the regulatory and policy environment are essential for investor confidence and obviously to unlock the full potential of Canada's conventional oil and gas.
The oil sands get a lot of news and they get a lot of noise, because that is what puts Canada on the map in terms of global reserves.
Mark, from your perspective and for your members—who are mostly individuals, small and medium-sized companies, homegrown Canadian companies owned and built by them, and very many indigenous entrepreneurs like those I represent in Lakeland—would you outline the top priority laws and regs that must be repealed or fixed to address what you have all said needs to be done urgently?
Also, I might note the Liberals have given us a hand in that by listing them in the back of Bill C-5, because that's why they brought in that bill. It was to work around those very laws themselves that Conservatives say they ought to fix fast.