Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I believe this motion has also been tabled at the foreign affairs and natural resources committees.
I want to point out that many Canadian companies have integrated corporate social responsibility practices into their operations at home and abroad, with great results. We encourage the Canadian business community to continue to do so.
Last year round tables were held across the country to discuss practical approaches to help Canadian companies conduct their operations in a socially and environmentally sustainable manner. An extensive and comprehensive set of recommendations was developed, and the government is reviewing them carefully right now.
Once a response is finalized, the government will honour its commitment to report back to Parliament on a proposed course of action. In the spirit of efficiency, the committee has a limited amount of time and resources to devote to studies before Christmas.
We've worked well together to set priorities. We've set out good priorities, and we need to continue with these priorities and the studies we've set out. In that framework, I'd like to inform the NDP that we would be opposed to this motion.