One of the big problems is the enforcement of laws and regulations that already exist, and the follow-up and monitoring of their enforcement. Before talking about tightening regulations, it might be better to tighten up follow-up and monitoring of the laws and regulations that already exist.
I think that it might be advisable to ask about the work of the departments concerned, that is, the ministère du Développement durable, de l'Environnement et des Parcs du Québec and its federal equivalent. There is an unprecedented mining boom in the history of Canada and Quebec. These ministries must therefore have a budget enabling them to have the human and financial resources to ensure real follow-up. Mining goes on in remote territories. So the mines are not very visible and it's important to have these resources.
We're making some advances on another major issue, though. We have to make sure the mines have appropriate and adequate financial guarantees to ensure the reclamation of mining sites once they're finished operating.
The Auditor General of Quebec, in 2009, indicated lots of problems in this connection. We're now making advances regarding a bill, but it still hasn't been passed. So we can't say that it has been given effect.
Still there is progress being made in this area.