Thank you, Mr. Chair.
It's actually very interesting to listen to all the witnesses in this committee, because some of the witnesses take a position that these explorations or expansions should be shut down immediately and some tell us the benefits of this industry. I, being from Calgary, Alberta, definitely see all the benefits every day. Those benefits are not for Albertans only; they are for the other provinces and territories also. I have seen workers from all over, and as a matter of fact, from overseas as well.
My first question is to Mr. Marushack. Mr. Marushack, your firm is listed as having interests in both natural gas and oil sands. With your oil sands operation, you must have seen the benefits to the local communities. In your opinion, what sorts of economic benefits for local communities can be expected if Canadian firms continue with that development of gas reserves?