Natural Resources committee  It's very critical to be there when the building is being planned, and it's very difficult for a geothermal energy supplier or a solar energy supplier to be there when it is being planned. It's much easier to go and retrofit, where you have somebody who's already paid his bills and realizes he can save energy from that.

Natural Resources committee  I think it would definitely be a very effective federal program. It's been tried. It's been tried in Australia and it's been tried in Austria. It's actually being tried also by Gaz Métro in Montreal. An interest-free loan to get you started is really a good thing, definitely. I think it would work, yes.

Natural Resources committee  Well, I would certainly try first, I guess, to look at the overall energy policy of Canada and to see where we as ministers have to push, where we want to push. It wouldn't be worth fighting against other agendas. Do we have a clear agenda here to introduce solar? Are we serious about it or not?

Natural Resources committee  I'm more familiar with Germany and Austria. They have federal programs and they've also had provincial programs, so they tie the two. First, they have been very steady. Also, they've been looking at each technology and not putting them all in the same pack. They say, okay, for solar water heating, for example, we'll give so much per square foot, per square metre; for solar space and water heating, we'll give a little more.

Natural Resources committee  I also have a fair amount of knowledge on geothermal energy. We can actually couple both; both help each other. If we tie a solar system to a geothermal system, you'll get more benefits from the geothermal system and you'll get good benefits from your solar system, so one with the other is very good,.

Natural Resources committee  Thank you, everybody, for inviting me. It's my second time here with you, as I was here last year in June. Talking more specifically about solar energy in Canada, I think there's enormous potential. Most of don't think there's enormous potential for a northern country like ours, but there is and it is untapped.