Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to our expert witnesses for being with us today and sharing your time with this committee on this important study.
My first few questions will be for Ms. Exner-Pirot concerning your expertise on critical minerals and the role they play in our defence sector.
I think most Canadians understand that we have critical minerals in Canada, but perhaps their appreciation for how very blessed we are relative to other countries is relatively unknown. We've had governments at all levels that have been opposed to various mining developments and the like or, if they do approve, it takes many years.
For the purposes of this committee in looking at a defence industrial policy, could you give us a bit more information on why it is critical that we take our natural resources in the mineral sector seriously and move more quickly to develop those resources?