Thank you, Mr. Chair.
This notice of motion does not concern the House. It simply aims to establish some sort of work grid or modus vivendi among us, on which we could then base our assessment of these presentations.
I am proposing this pursuant to the mission of Natural Resources Canada, as defined in the 2005-06 departmental Report on Plans and Priorities, which states:
NRCan's mandate is to develop, implement and deliver policies, programs, science and technology (S&T) for the sustainable development and responsible use of Canada's mineral, energy and forestry resources;
pursuant to the Department of Natural Resources Act, which stipulates, in section 6:
In exercising the powers and performing the duties and functions assigned to the Minister by section 5, the Minister shall (a) have regard to the sustainable development of Canada’s natural resources and the integrated management thereof;
pursuant to the definition of sustainable development in the Auditor General Act in section 21.1, which states:
The purpose of the Commissioner is to provide sustainable development monitoring and reporting on the progress of category I departments towards sustainable development, which is a continually evolving concept based on the integration of social, economic and environmental concerns.
My motion, which you have in both official languages, therefore reads as follows:
That the Committee acknowledge the analytical framework to be used by the Committee in its work be that of sustainable development, which gives equal consideration to economic development, social equity and environmental conservation.
It should not be too difficult, but it would be a good idea to establish a framework that corresponds to the legislation established for Natural Resources Canada.