Mr. Speaker, the federal government is responsible at this time for monitoring the activities of companies that are operating on crown lands at this time. This is done primarily through the existing regulatory regimes, such as the Water Licensing Board, the land use permits, and other regimes that the federal government has in place. This monitoring agency that we have set up was specifically called for by the environmental groups, the aboriginal communities, and our government. The federal government came out as a condition for approval of the project that such a monitoring agency should be set up.

The monitoring agency was specifically reviewed the activities of BHP and the governments in regard to how the development proceeds and how the governments live up to their own obligations in regard to existing laws and agreements. That is what this monitoring agency will be doing. It is being set up at this time to do just that. An implementation group is in place to facilitate the establishment of that monitoring agency. Thank you.