Thank you all for being here this morning.
I have a question for Ms. Keeping, and for you, Mr. Ingram.
Yesterday in London, the Government of Canada committed to improving transparency and accountability in the extractive sector. Prime Minister Harper announced that Canada will be establishing new mandatory reporting standards for Canadian extractive companies with a view to enhancing transparency of the payments they make to governments. The new reporting regime will be established with a view to improving transparency, ensuring that Canada’s framework is consistent with existing international standards and aligned with those of other G-8 countries, ensuring a level playing field for companies operating domestically and abroad, enhancing investment certainty, helping reinforce the integrity of Canadian extractive companies, and helping to ensure that citizens around the world benefit from the natural resources in their country.
My question for whoever wants to go first is first of all, are you happy with this announcement, and do you have any suggestions that you would give to the government as it formulates this regime?