Natural Resources committee  Of oil? Thirty-eight barrels.

Natural Resources committee  Correct.

Natural Resources committee  I'll do my best, but I have to admit my technical knowledge in this area is limited. I have some colleagues who could probably jump in.

Natural Resources committee  The challenge when there's oil in the environment is how to clean up the oil, if you will, soak it up and absorb it. Machines and equipment do that kind of thing. Then there are challenges about how you can break up the oil and its properties so that it's more easily absorbed, consumed, vacuumed, and cleaned up.

Natural Resources committee  It's the Minister of the Environment who would make that determination, based on evidence and research and the science from the community at large, both here in Canada and around the world. The body of evidence, of course, is unfortunately growing, because there are spills. Spill-treating agents are some of the new tools to deal with spills.

Natural Resources committee  It's a good question. I would recognize, of course, the move to reduce the number of responsible authorities across the regulatory regime to kind of streamline and to make more efficient reviews and to focus on the best-suited regulator, if you will. In this particular instance, the act provides that they may be designated by the Minister of the Environment; so there's a step here that the government may or may not designate.

Natural Resources committee  If my provincial colleagues were here, they would probably say that they were expecting it to happen.

Natural Resources committee  Given that we share the management, there's a very sensitive...that we manage jointly together, so it gives a feeling that if the offshore boards are responsible, it's much more shared than, if you will, jointly exercised.

Natural Resources committee  Sure. Currently in Canada, spill-treating agents would be considered unlawful, although the evidence base is demonstrated, I think, from a number of incidents around the world, most notably in the gulf, that spill-treating agents did have a net environmental positive benefit. It's a determination that has to be made very far in advance of any incident and done in a way that's, if you will, a mitigating planned sense.

Natural Resources committee  I think our view of it and our analysis of it would suggest that we're world-class in terms of being.... We have a strong regulatory environment, a strong legal framework, a strong regulator who's independent, a record that has not seen any significant incidents of large proportions, and a record that demonstrates that the companies have operated consistently, safely, and with concern for the environment and the development, one that's brought benefits to the country.

Natural Resources committee  Well, that would hold, in common law today, that they require the ability to provide for unlimited liability when at fault or negligent. We've provided in the bill that they require proof of financial responsibility for absolute liability, the amount that we would expect. The financial responsibility is the same level or higher, if you will, than the absolute, but we've not provided for the possibility that they be ready for an unknown amount.

Natural Resources committee  We consulted with a number of industry operators. We consulted with industry associations, legal and environmental groups, first nations north of 60, and we consulted with provinces. There were mixed feelings about the amounts. Some wanted the amounts to be much lower; others were comfortable with the amount that—

Natural Resources committee  Most of the operators who operate in Atlantic Canada were consulted in the discussions. Since the announcement was made, I think, last June, we've had broad consultations with all kinds of different stakeholder parties.

Natural Resources committee  It was mixed, is what I said. Some preferred it to be lower, some were comfortable with what we had established. I think their view was it didn't have to be as high as it was because companies all act in the way that one would expect. But you'd have to ask them.

Natural Resources committee  Why does it not provide regulations?