Mr. Speaker, the "Mining, an industry to support" campaign launched by the mining industry last September has received massive public support in over 150 mining communities in Canada and Quebec as well as from many other Canadians and Quebecers who are concerned about the future of this industry.
The mining industry is one of the driving forces of the economy and as such requires more serious attention from the government as well as urgent action.
Canada's mineable reserves keep decreasing. But this country cannot afford to lose an industry which contributes so much to the national economy and to regional development. The government must take steps to revitalize this industry. Time has come, for example, to look at the possibility of giving preferential tax treatment to mining flow-through shares as well as at the need for a definition of "research and development" in the Income Tax Act that would include mining exploration.