Thank you for that.
Thank you for inviting me. As the president of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, it's my pleasure to act as a witness today for these proceedings.
Just by way of background, the CIM is a global mining powerhouse. We have over 10,000 members. We are laser-focused as an institute, and I'm really proud—and maybe you don't realize—that we have 120 years of history under our belt as an institute. That shows a lot of resilience as an organization, having endured world wars, depressions and now getting through a pandemic.
The secret to our success is really our collaborative nature, and we address the mining industry's needs. We drive innovation, we develop best practices, and we are united globally through peer groups. We have peer groups, similar institutes in Australia, the United States, the U.K., Europe, South America and others. CIM right now is very active in leading the global action on tailings for the mining industry, and we're very proud of the work that we're leading there. CIM has helped, and will continue to help, members and the Canadian mineral industry make positive impacts and obtain a competitive edge through our one CIM community, and a gateway to a world of knowledge.
We operate according to three strategic goals. Our first goal is to create, co-create and share leading-edge knowledge. We also unite and engage an entire mining community, and our third goal is to expand the awareness of the mining industry's essential contribution to society.
We know who our members are at the CIM. We have members from government, non-government, academia, industry, the supplies and service sector, OEMs—that's original equipment manufacturers, original technology manufacturers—from financial institutes, investors and indigenous peoples. Together, the CIM and all our stakeholders are represented. We have extraordinary skills. We have deep knowledge and expertise. We have entrepreneurs, visionary leaders, engineers, geologists, and the full spectrum right across the value chain for critical minerals and other products that are offered by the mining industry.
CIM knows that we can leverage our brain power, our collective effort and our energy to benefit the mining industry, to benefit the Canadian economy with good jobs, and for the sustainability of our planet. The CIM has 10 technical societies with our volunteer members. For example, we have a geological society, a management & economics society, an underground mining society, a surface mining society, an environmental and social responsibility society, and others. Each of our societies is working on their specific technical expertise and focus area to build best practices, guidelines and standards that matter to the mining industry and that are driven by the mining industry.
Most recently, we created 10 global mining guidelines. These include the battery electric vehicle guidelines for underground mining. This was made for the mining industry's objective of green mining for green metals for a green economy. This is toward the mining industry's goal of zero net carbon by 2050, or sooner.
At CIM we are proud of our mineral resource, mineral reserve, guidelines and best practices. This is for technical reporting in compliance with national instrument 43-101 disclosure, and the requirements of qualified persons.
Our MRMR guidelines are world-class. They're referenced in all other mining jurisdictions. The CIM and our members are recognized globally for our vision, our spirit and our deep knowledge and expertise in mining, from exploration through to closure and rehabilitation.
Personally, I joined the CIM when I was an engineering student at the University of Toronto. My dad was a mining engineer, and he encouraged me to join to see who's who, to learn about the industry and its enormous value to Canada, to be part of the CIM family, and to make a difference. Thirty years later, I'm the head of the family. I'm the head of the CIM and I want CIM to make a difference.
This is really perfect timing, through this work with the critical minerals, because CIM is completing a strategic plan right now. Critical minerals are an opportunity to be a cornerstone of our future efforts through the CIM.
When I reflect back on 2017, we had a pan-Canadian mining proposal being put together by representatives all around the table from different stakeholders. It was for cluster funding. It was the first time in my history that I had seen such a willingness and collaborative effort.