Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, Ultramar acquired the assets of Texaco in 1990 pursuant to a consent order of the competition tribunal and subject to the agreement of the director of investigations and research under the Competition Act on the basis of undertakings given by Ultramar to keep the refinery in Dartmouth open for seven years, unless there was a material adverse change in circumstances.
Ultramar is now saying that there is such a material adverse change in circumstances and endeavouring to either sell or, failing to sell, to close the refinery.
The director of investigations and research is investigating to assure himself of the facts that are the basis of the claim of an adverse change in circumstances. Once he is satisfied as to whether such a change has occurred he will then be in a position to take the appropriate action either to enforce the undertakings or to permit Ultramar to proceed with its actions.
I can assure the hon. member that we are very concerned, with him, about the jobs that are at risk in Dartmouth as a result of this decision and we want to make sure that the right thing is done.