Natural Resources committee  This is a nice question. At SNC-Lavalin, we're involved in pretty much all fields of supply, including coal, wind, hydro, and nuclear. We strongly think it's good to have a balanced mix of energy that includes hydro, nuclear, coal, wind, and solar. Unfortunately, we don't think the percentages for wind and solar can be that high, due to the requirements for redundancy and the requirements to make sure hospitals stay on 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Natural Resources committee  It's a very good point. As part of our international marketing and as part of the prospects we're talking about, if we look at Turkey, Jordan, and other countries such as Poland, they're all very interested exactly for that reason: not to be so dependent on the supply of fuel, which is controlled, basically, by the United States and France.

Natural Resources committee  In the first case--why do we think it's safe?--look at the history. Look at the CANDUs that have been built in Canada for the past 30-some years and that are operational. You can look at what's been built in Argentina, in Romania, and even the ones in India. The track record is there.

Natural Resources committee  Our recommendation, of course, is for every nuclear technology company in the world to receive government support in order to develop its international relations and continue to develop. That is what the federal government is doing at present through the Department of Foreign Affairs and its various agencies.

Natural Resources committee  The other major technology providers.... You have AREVA and Westinghouse, which are basically the two biggest ones in the world. You have GE Hitachi. What is forecasted in the situation...and I'll make a parallel to the Inco acquisition. When you have a foreigner coming in and taking new Canadian assets, what happens is that the priority to the company in the future is to always protect the headquarters in its own country.

Natural Resources committee  The preoccupation is what has been happening historically, and it is a concern to us.

Natural Resources committee  Could you repeat the question?

Natural Resources committee  Good afternoon. Thank you for this opportunity to present SNC-Lavalin's views on the nuclear industry in Canada. First, I will give a brief introduction of SNC-Lavalin; second, I will talk about the ongoing SNC-Lavalin involvement with AECL and the other nuclear projects; and third, I will outline the need for urgent and immediate action to determine the future of AECL and the whole Canadian nuclear industry.