Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to all the witnesses. I'm going to begin with Mr. Gratton.
As you alluded to earlier, I have a briefing note from your organization from January of this year praising the current process under the environmental assessment review. It says, “The amendments to CEAA made in 2010...were implemented quickly and competently by the Agency”, and it has “provided mining project proponents with relief”. It says, “For the first time, provincial and federal assessments are synchronized.”
The Mining Association of Canada says its “primary interest in the review [of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act] is to convey support for the new system brought” in, and to “renew funding for the Environmental Assessment Agency”.
My first question is, why did you ask for new funding for the agency, please?