Sharky:

I believe you are being way too pessimistic on the future for oil. It is virtually impossible to replace in any near term, oil derived automotive fuels. The United States and Canada have 300 million automobiles. To replace every one of them at current production capacity would require 20 years, assuming that we could convert all productive capacity to non oil based fuel starting tomorrow and build the new source of energy vehicles at maximum capacity. All tasks which by any reasonable definition, is clearly impossible.

Additionally, we would then have to assume that the economic climate will never again improve and recover. For, if it does, people will have to buy cars for their ongoing transportation needs. And since we cannot bring on great enough supply of alternatively fueled vehicles fast enough, the vast majority of those needing a new vehicle, will have to buy an internal combustion engine propelled vehicle.

We will have automobiles with internal combustion engines for a long time yet. Will alternatives become available in some sort of capacity of a gradually increasing quantity? Of course. But to get the technology developed enabling long range driving capability as well as the totality of the infrastructure required to support it, will take as a guess on my part, much longer than twenty years to complete.

Whether under present circumstances, Connacher will be able to survive the current demand situation, is a yet to be determined question! As the old saying goes, "timing is everything"!

Brian