Thank you, Mr. Chair.
It certainly is my pleasure to be here today around the table with my colleagues, although it's only temporary. I'm especially pleased to be here with my colleagues from the mining community.
I want to emphasize that Ms. Charlton; our leader, Tom Mulcair; and I met with some of your board members on Tuesday. Your board members recognized that we support mining as long as it's done in the right way, and I think that's what we're trying to do here today. We recognize your contributions, which are good jobs, taxes, the contribution to the GDP, and of course the employment of many aboriginal people, which is very important.
I'm going to direct my questions to the Mining Association for now. I'd like to know the target of this legislation, and why you think the penalties need to be increased?