BJ:
The longer one waits to market the oil sands industry, the more one will see emerging economic interests take a position in the Sands. At which point the Canadian industry has lost control of the downstream market profit synergy. If non Canadian national oil companies are allowed to take positions in the Sands, rather than Canadian controlled producers, then dominion over capturing the value addded portion of the revenue stream is lost. Instead, that portion of the value added stream will be ceded to the off shore companies which will buy the low cost, low margin dilbit and then upgrade and refine off-shore thus, capturing most of the value added potential and therefore limiting Canadian capture of the potential revenue stream. Time for the Oil Sands industry to grow up. Technical issues to deal with? Sure, So get on with it!
Brian