Thank you, Minister, for being here, despite being under the weather. I appreciate that.
We're here to talk about Canadian mining companies abroad. Probably half the mining companies in the world are registered in Canada.
I recently had the opportunity to travel to South America with the Speaker, to Argentina and Chile. It was clear how important Canadian mining companies are to our trade with those countries—particularly to Chile, in the economy of which Canada is the largest investor.
Given all those companies, over the years some very serious allegations have been made against Canadian companies. That, I assume, led to the creation of the Canadian ombudsperson for responsible enterprise. Sheri Meyerhoffer is now in that position, and she was before this committee in February.
Despite the complaints we hear from other sources about some of these Canadian companies, she admitted that she had not heard any complaints at all from South America, from Central America or from Africa. When I talk to parliamentarians from Central America and South America, I hear those complaints.
When I asked her why she hadn't had any, she said it was because she didn't have the power to compel witnesses and documents, and that those indigenous communities and small communities had been told not to bother complaining to CORE because they wouldn't get anywhere, and that it would be better to go through the courts or to the UN.
In fact, at that committee meeting, she said:
Having the power to compel witnesses and documents would provide my office with the powers needed to require company participation and avoid the need for human rights allegations to go to courts, a process that is less accessible and is expensive.
I think we have some indication now that not all companies are going to engage. The only way we could move forward and do a true, thorough job would be to have those powers.
I'd like you to comment on why the ombudsperson has not been given those powers.