There are four issues I would like the committee to concentrate on, and they are four issues that Unifor feels are important in order for this sector to survive and flourish.
We need to establish a foreign ownership policy or define what net benefit really means. The test itself is very vague, and it needs to be amplified. It needs to concentrate on investments, research and development, spending, and crucially employment and the guarantee of employment.
Foreign takeovers should be screened and have a clear and ambitious net benefit test that aims to develop the sector for the benefit of all Canadians. We also have to look at our hydroelectricity costs. That is a big burden for employers. Another thing we need to look at is the royalties being given to all levels of governments. We have our municipal, provincial, and federal governments, and some of the royalties aren't, in our assessment, fair with some of the players.
We need to develop a national strategy around mining. It will draw the best practices of all other mining jurisdictions, including the measures around conservation and efficiency, public ownership, regulatory oversights, public consultation, and the security of supply. More importantly, it will build maximum benefits for all Canadians.
We must find creative ways to attract as many community benefits from mining resources as possible.
Thank you.