Perhaps I could break it down into a couple of different components. There is the component with respect to the gender element to your question. We absolutely agree; in our due diligence with respect to human rights, we are very clear that our due diligence covers vulnerable people, those sections of the community who are either protected or who are at greater risk of severe human rights risks. Women and children are included in protected communities, as are human rights defenders who may be subject to severe risks. Those are categories that we do cover in our due diligence activities.
As it relates to our support for the oil and gas industry and the mining industry, they are absolutely industries that EDC does support. They are very significant contributors to the Canadian economy. I would suggest that not all members of those industries are bad actors. That's what our due diligence process is out to identify.
Now, we also have to recognize that when EDC does enter into relationships, particularly financing relationships, they can be very long-term financing relationships. We have seen instances whereby in financing we have done in the past, our due diligence procedures have changed over time. There is a time element to this, as we continue to augment our procedures in line with international best practices. Whether that's the OECD with respect to their due diligence practices on supply chains, or whether it's clearer principles forward, which have brought in the concept of free, prior and informed consent, we continually add to that, yet there are some transactions that we did many years ago, when those pieces of legislation did not exist.
I do believe it is working properly. We will continue to support all Canadian companies with respect to the sectors of Canadian GDP.