Thanks to all our witnesses.
Mr. Miltenberger, it's very good to speak with you again.
I'd like to start off by asking you and Dr. MacDonald a question. You both spoke very eloquently about the importance of getting balance around sustainability, ensuring that while we are looking to mining operations we're not destroying an already existing economy and existing practices in the north.
There's been a lot of controversy around Bill C-38 and the elimination of environmental assessments. The Commissioner of the Environment stated before the finance subcommittee dealing with that portion of Bill C-38 that we will be moving federally from between 4,000 and 6,000 environmental assessments down to just a handful annually.
I'm wondering if you could both respond on that. Does it worry you that we're virtually eliminating environmental assessments at the federal level, including for many mining projects? What does that mean to achieving that balance you've both spoken so eloquently about maintaining?
I'll start with you, Mr. Miltenberger.