I'm actually quite surprised that the only reference to the climate crisis today, aside from my testimony, was when another witness pointed out that climate change would create opportunities in terms of access.
Let's be clear: Climate change is a national security threat. We absolutely have to consider the fact that, if a country increases military or national defence spending in the critical minerals sector, that will have an impact on the environment. That's unacceptable to us.
There were already major concerns about whether Canada is able to supply the minerals for the energy transition alone. If we add national defence needs to that, where are we going to get these minerals and under what conditions? That is the question we have to ask ourselves.