Natural Resources committee  I'll let Scott answer that one. He's the one overlooking all of that. We don't fund on an ongoing basis, only for a particular project. Typically, if we say to a particular organization, “You've requested $70,000, but we're giving you $28,000,” it's for that project. We don't fund them to operate.

Natural Resources committee  I would like Scott to explain to you how we decide how much money we give and that type of thing.

Natural Resources committee  We do that—and when I say “we,” I mean the panel typically takes into consideration the work of CEMA and the work of other experts, and what we know of future projects. But again, we don't know all the projects that are being contemplated by this industry. We know some of them. We know what the territory looks like.

Natural Resources committee  If I may, I said earlier that the environmental assessment never says—I haven't seen it anyway—no, this project cannot proceed. It says this project can proceed, but if you have 95 complex measures that need to be put in place, or if you need to change the grid from this part of the river to the next one, that makes it uneconomical for a proponent to go ahead with the project.

Natural Resources committee  That's right. Maybe, Scott, you can help me.

Natural Resources committee  The final decision to authorize a project or not rests with the government or the Cabinet. It considers the report from the review panel, which indicates what can be reduced, what can be limited and what the impacts on the environment could be. It is never a black and white decision for us.

Natural Resources committee  Of course, but it’s the Cabinet that, when all is said and done, decides whether the environmental impact is acceptable or not. Our role is to document and explain what can be done and what cannot be done. After that, the government decides. We never recommend abandoning a project.

Natural Resources committee  They are not under construction because they are being assessed.

Natural Resources committee  The review panels’ reports indicate the extent of the emissions and how much the mitigation measures will reduce them. The decision on whether or not to go ahead rests with the government, the Cabinet.

Natural Resources committee  There have been only two to date, but there will be many others. So there have been two projects for which the Minister of the Environment has appointed a joint review panel with Alberta.

Natural Resources committee  The two projects in question are Muskeg and Kearl Lake. They are two big projects.

Natural Resources committee  In every case where there is a review panel, we have a budget, a participant fund. As a result, in every case, we appoint a panel, often headed by our director in the region where the panel is sitting, as well as people from outside, and we review the requests. We do not fund any group that has its own sources of funding.

Natural Resources committee  It’s true that there are also first nations. There are many aboriginal groups.

Natural Resources committee  Yes, absolutely.

Natural Resources committee  I could send you a list.