Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would like to thank everyone. I'm happy we have been able to begin this study. I think you have all laid the groundwork very well, as have our analysts.
I initiated this important work at the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology because I believe in the importance of critical and strategic minerals, in particular, in the energy transition. I also believe in the importance of the circular economy in this regard, something we are hearing about more and more, both in the various government publications and in what industry representatives are saying.
I think my colleagues would agree with me that what we also want is to see more predictability, transparency and honesty in everything relating to this challenge connected with recycling. We want to highlight the work to be done to strengthen the implementation of this circular economy. We want to see our things being transformed instead of seeing them just retired when there are still good quality inputs that could be used in manufacturing other items.
I wanted to tackle this study a few months ago now because I think the recycling industry is part of the solution and the extraction and transformation of critical and strategic minerals also presents challenges in terms of social acceptance.
I come from Rouyn-Noranda. You have all heard about the problems connected with the Horne Foundry. Those problems have definitely divided our community and had an impact on social harmony. We can never play with people's health. The main factors affecting health, public health and the environment were obviously the responsibility of the Government of Quebec, and I think it was important for it to table its plans before we started a study like this one.
How do you see the question of social acceptance in a context like that?
Mr. Guilbeault had announced that the federal government—more specifically, the Department of the Environment—had asked questions and requested a study.
What is this study that was requested?
What comments and recommendations, if any, do you have?