Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I really appreciate this discussion this morning. It's very important information for our committee and for Canada as a whole. Thank you for being here.
My first question is a bit of an expansion on an earlier discussions on regulations and the regulatory process. You mentioned that mining is provincially regulated, but there are also national labour and environmental standards. Of course, Canadian industry, whether it's mining or refining, is probably some of the most environmentally friendly in the world and also has probably some of the highest worker protections in the world.
When we think about critical minerals, we often think about horrific working conditions and really low wages overseas. The regulatory process in Canada is often criticized as a barrier to development. I want to turn that around and ask you the question. How is the Canadian regulatory process that protects workers and protects the environment a competitive advantage for us and our allies around the world who are looking to make sure that they are investing in environmentally friendly and good working conditions?