I don't need English translation, but I might speak in both French and English, if you don't mind. When you speak there, it's okay if you speak in English.
Good afternoon, everyone.
I am honoured to be with you today to discuss a few issues and priorities concerning development and resources in the north, particularly northern Quebec. So I'm going to focus on the situation in Quebec, but there are certainly some parallels to be made with other parts of Canada.
I'm Ugo Lapointe, spokesperson for the Coalition Pour que le Québec ait meilleure mine, a name which isn't easy to translate into English. I wish the translators luck.
Basically, we represent some 20 bodies in Quebec, chiefly union organizations, such as the Centrale des syndicats du Québec, the regional council of the CSN in Abitibi-Témiscamingue and Ungava, a major mining region, and the Syndicat de la fonction publique du Québec inc., which includes technicians and technologists employed by the ministère du Développement durable, de l'Environnement et des Parcs, and the ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune. In addition, there are members of environmental groups like Nature Québec, Ecojustice and Mines Alerte Canada, and citizen organizations from Abitibi-Témiscamingue, the North Shore and other parts of Quebec. In all, the Coalition Pour que le Québec ait meilleure mine has between 200,000 and 225,000 affiliated members.
As indicated by its name, the coalition's aim is for Quebec to look better and not for it to have more mines. Generally speaking, we're in favour of mining development, but we think that some major issues have to be resolved, particularly social and environmental issues. Our mission is to promote much more effective practices, regulations and monitoring on social and environmental levels.
My presentation divides into two or three points. The first one is designed to give you an overview of the situation in northern Quebec regarding mining operations. The second contains three recommendations that I'd like to make to your committee. I hope it won't take too long.
I'd like the chair to tell me how much time I have left.