Mr. Speaker, the mining industry contributes $26 billion to the Canadian economy every year. It accounts for 16% of our trade exports. It adds $7 billion to Canada's positive trade balance. It generates 368,000 Canadian jobs. It is the lifeblood of 128 communities, especially in rural, remote, northern and aboriginal areas, and it is very much a sophisticated high tech industry that leads the world in sustainable development.
In the House of Commons on November 24th, 1998. See this statement in context.