Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, witnesses, for all the work you're doing in the mining industry across Canada. As we know, and as we have heard from many industry experts and executives at mining companies, it's cyclical. The positive news is that mineral prices are rebounding, so we have to get ready for the next cycle of growth.
I want to focus on clusters and ecosystems, and creating more jobs around one mining job. Many studies have shown that three to five jobs are created around one mining job. Today it's great, because northern Ontario and B.C., two of the largest centres, have clusters already in place.
We heard in the last session from Canada's Oil Sands Innovation Alliance. They look at exploration, financing, R and D, operations, and commercialization, which are very important and also lead to innovation.
In the mining sector, we do not have a coordinated effort across Canada. I wanted to get from each of the three of you some specific recommendations, for the industry and the federal government, to expand and strengthen clusters and ecosystems in the mining industry, as Australia has done.