Natural Resources committee  Yes, and there is another $3 million amount for capital expenditures. Could that be related to our Hamilton laboratory?

Natural Resources committee  There are also some capital expenditures for the new metallurgy laboratory in Hamilton. A few years ago it was transferred from Ottawa to Hamilton and we are still installing equipment there. We wanted to ensure that we had up-to-date equipment for the metallurgy sector.

Natural Resources committee  Mr. Chair, this is within the attributions and responsibilities of the National Energy Board, but I do want to take the opportunity to clarify the question because I asked the same question when I was reviewing the documents. The way to characterize it is it's not properly reflecting what's going on.

Natural Resources committee  Mr. Chair, witnesses would be delighted if every question had as a preamble that you can answer or not. I do not know exactly, but I would imagine it is really taking the volume of crude that is transported through pipelines over time, and looking at whatever might have happened in terms of spills, and then relating it back to that total volume.

Natural Resources committee  Thank you for your question. You cited some very significant figures with respect to spending cuts. Many of these expenditures are in fact transfers, meaning contributions and grants to other sectors. That is not necessarily reflected in the operating costs of the department and has no bearing on our ability to contribute to science.

Natural Resources committee  As part of the Deficit Reduction Action Plan, we had to cut 160 positions. In our department, approximately 40% of our staff have a scientific mission and duties. The ratio is more or less the same for our deficit reduction exercise. We did not target scientific positions more than any others.

Natural Resources committee  Mr. Chair, I will give a brief answer. The main estimates before you contain what was announced and what has been achieved to date. I think that the department and the government fully acknowledge the value of this program. As far as this matter is concerned, I would say that you should stay tuned.

Natural Resources committee  Yes, absolutely. There has been a significant increase, which we, moreover, have said is good news. This money will be used to renew the receiving infrastructure for our satellite signals. These investments will be made in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. There are two receiving antennas; one is located in Inuvik and the other in Gatineau.

Natural Resources committee  I believe so. Atomic Energy of Canada should initiate discussions on this matter. Atomic Energy of Canada manages the Nuclear Legacy Liabilities Program on our behalf. Atomic Energy of Canada and Hydro Quebec need to discuss matters to ensure that the reactors are disabled in a harmonious and cost-effective manner and that operations are well-coordinated.

Natural Resources committee  I am not a physicist, but we do have some around the table. We must remember that the dismantling of a nuclear reactor does not take place overnight, even if it is urgent. This is a long process. We also need to have a long-term plan for the disposal of these assets and equipment and we have to provide for long-term security.

Natural Resources committee  Pardon me, I did not hear your question very well.

Natural Resources committee  The entire program, which includes waste currently located in Chalk River, Ontario, waste near the Bruce nuclear reactor in Ontario and at Gentilly-1, as well as other equipment located in various regions of Canada, such as in Whiteshell, Manitoba, is a waste management program that will be recorded as a liability for the Government of Canada.

Natural Resources committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. It is indeed an important and to some extent historic kind of opportunity to further the relationship with the aboriginal communities around resource development. At Natural Resources Canada we interact and try to make contributions to that relationship in different ways, in particular through the major project management office, which brings together all of the major regulatory departments in Ottawa.

Natural Resources committee  We have roles in many facets of this. For example, the work we do as regards the regulatory process and ensuring the regulatory process is run in a coordinated manner among all the different federal partners through the MPMO, major project management office, is important. We are fundamentally a science-based department as well.

Natural Resources committee  If you wish to have further details on forestry, we have someone here who could speak more to some of the details. There's really two aspects of innovation in the forestry sector. One is developing the markets, and I think the minister spoke a bit about that, but innovation from a technology standpoint also needs to develop new higher value-added products, new ways of ensuring that Canada not only sells two-by-fours but that we're able to develop new products like cross-laminated timber.