Mr. Speaker, since this is national mines week, it is important to stress the economic, cultural and social contribution of this industry for several regions of Canada.
For example, the mining sector shaped the development of several Quebec regions, particularly in the north, where I lived for a number of years. To this day, the mining industry remains a major economic development tool. Year in year out, mining shipments total between $2.5 and $3 billion. The mining industry is also a major employer, including in rural areas.
To be sure, the challenge for this sector is to turn to high technology and thus contribute-