I have some advice for you.
Nuclear power involves certain risks, as you are well aware. If you speak to anyone of my generation, you will see that what we still remember is Chernobyl and its irreversible environmental damage. Calling for a relaxation of impact assessments is, in my view, not a good idea. I'm telling you this as a politician. I think you'll face a backlash that will outweigh any benefits you might gain.
Why do I think that? Like me, you may have seen the recent ruling by a judge regarding waste management at Chalk River. When it comes to nuclear energy, people lack the technical knowledge, yet they still have reservations, because nuclear power can have significant environmental repercussions which, in turn, can have an impact on people's health.
In my view, it is not a good idea, from a communications standpoint, to appear before a House of Commons committee to ask for a relaxation of impact assessments. It is possible to find workarounds, but the fact remains that, in the minds of the majority of people, nuclear energy is associated with danger.
I'm saying this in a completely friendly spirit. All we're trying to do here is ensure that Canada and Quebec are energy-secure. If we want to move forward and get certain projects off the ground—projects which, in the case of nuclear power, might not go ahead in Quebec—we need to give this some thought. It's in the collective interest. However, and I say this in the collective interest as well, I do not think it is a good course of action for you to call for a reduction in impact assessments.