Natural Resources committee  That's a good question and probably a tough one. I think you're quite right with your opening observation. Proximity is probably the biggest consideration with respect to that project and the level of community support. I wouldn't suggest that it's a process factor or a company factor or anything else.

Natural Resources committee  All I would offer and suggest at this point is to convene a meeting with CMIC, the Canada Mining Innovation Council, and the schools that are active in this area, whether the ones from British Columbia or the ones mentioned from Ontario, and have them offer up some of the recommendations and suggestions to make sure that part is considered and supported.

Natural Resources committee  That's a great question, Mr. Tan. I think this ties back to the earlier question about the business or industry clusters that we've formed here in Canada. Vancouver in B.C. is a good example of that on the academic side, especially with universities and schools, whether we're talking about BCIT, the University of British Columbia, or SFU, and so forth.

Natural Resources committee  That's a good question. I'll probably have to think about that one a bit more. I would imagine resources just in a general sense are necessary, especially at the R and D stage. MDRU is fortunate to attract a lot of support from major exploration and mining companies. You want a program to at least look into whether the Government of Canada would be willing to provide more resources to make sure we can really move these efforts forward.

Natural Resources committee  Thank you, Ms. Stubbs, for that question. I would offer that the industry I represent is full of incredibly dynamic, hard-working, inspiring, and proud folks, but realistic. They are dreamers, but it's realistic optimism, I think, and that's the difference. With respect to the transboundary relations between Alaska and B.C., obviously they're based on the transboundary waters.

Natural Resources committee  That's a very good question. Thank you. There seems to be some confusion among all the parties as to the level of detail required for environmental assessments with respect to some of the projects you mentioned and some of the changes that have been made. It's an evolving process.

Natural Resources committee  One quick observation is that even if you take one or two differences in British Columbia, it does have a cluster built on experience in the backyard, as it were, with respect to exploration and mining development. For technical, legal, and accounting matters, there is a cluster that has formed there.

Natural Resources committee  I really couldn't comment, but I imagine it's part of the motivation or the rationale for having the discussion now. We're a completely different sector and I don't think we're directly implicated in that, but I understand the question.

Natural Resources committee  It's always a danger to make an assumption like that. In AME we're very supportive of having the review of the current incentives. It's always a healthy thing to do. I believe the finding that Finance Canada will arrive at is that these are very good incentives that have been developed and will continue to be potentially modified in the future.

Natural Resources committee  Thank you. That is an important issue. As with many things in life, we tend to dwell on the dramatic or things that are negative, but there are actually many positive agreements between industry, government, and first nations in B.C. in particular. I think the one thing the Government of Canada could do, working with the province and working with associations and first nations, is to showcase and highlight all those great examples that rarely get any attention.

Natural Resources committee  Thank you for the question, Mr. Strahl. The short answer is yes, although I must declare that AME does not have an official position with respect to climate action, climate policy, carbon pricing, and so forth. I say yes because, given the experience with the carbon tax in British Columbia, and the fact that the cap-and-trade system didn't come into play, that does support, I think, Mr.

Natural Resources committee  Thank you very much. I must say that Thunder Bay was one of our favourite spots to stop in our trip across Canada last year. We started in St. John's, Newfoundland, and drove all the way across and, 7,700 kilometres later, back into Victoria. Thunder Bay was a highlight. Good morning, Mr.

Finance committee  The example I raised earlier is Mount Milligan, which is being, hopefully, put forward by Terrane Metals. At the back end, there is support shown on the regulatory reform side with respect to that project. That is a good example of where the Major Projects Management Office is not just about the environmental assessment or front end but also about the middle to the back end of a project moving through with respect to harmonizing permits and regulations between the federal government and the provincial government.

Finance committee  Thank you for the question. Indeed I do, and maybe I'll start with the Major Projects Management Office, which was a $15 million investment made by this government a few years back. That office is charged with finding efficiencies and effectiveness between provinces, territories, and the federal government.

Finance committee  My colleague Byng pointed to something such as Highway 37--the power line and the grand vision that would perhaps link it to Yukon, Alaska, and other places in British Columbia. That's nation building versus smaller local programs that have immediate benefits but perhaps not long-term benefits.