By an all party agreement, the rules were relaxed so that a more informal atmosphere prevailed and Parliamentarians from all parties were able to discuss the issues and try to make progress on them.
Natural resources are the foundation of Canada s economy.
They account for more than 15 per cent of our GDP and 40 per cent of our exports. A large part of the trade surplus we enjoy as a nation is a result of our ability to harvest our natural resources. For many communities, resource industries are virtually the sole employer. And in all cases, those jobs support many more jobs in their communities. As I said in the House, during the debate, it s important for Parliamentarians and for Canadians in general to understand that the challenges rural Canadians face and that our natural resource communities face are unique.