I was on this committee for my entire four years as an MP, so it's great to be back.
What you're all embarking on is extraordinarily difficult. I actually will admit that I was a delegate at the earth summit in Rio, where a lot of this began, and when I was with the Manitoba government we attempted exactly what we're talking about here. The premier chaired the council, we had a sustainable development act, and I was the chief staff person. What all of you are attempting is extraordinarily difficult. We almost minimize how difficult it actually is. The challenges are enormous, given the complexity of government and different departments.
I'm going to direct all my questions to Ms. Pearce, if I might, because she happens to be here.
Ms. Pearce, one thing that struck me about all of the presentations, yours included, was that there was no mention of the urgent need to create wealth in society, and obviously via free markets, which are the most efficient wealth-creation system the world has ever seen. Why was the issue of the need to create wealth not front and centre? I mean dollar wealth.