Environment committee  In our brief, one of the examples was on fisheries, where until recently the opportunities to look at ways to compensate and to adhere to the no net loss principle was really restricted to the mine lease. It narrowly circumscribed the opportunities to actually achieve those outcomes.

Environment committee  No. I said he's the guy who's going to answer all your questions.

Environment committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair, members of the committee, clerk, and fellow attendees. As you've just mentioned, I'm Pierre Gratton, president and CEO of the Mining Association of Canada. We're the national voice of the mining and mineral processing industry. Ben Chalmers, who is with me, is our vice-president of sustainable development and is responsible for implementing our “towards sustainable mining” initiative.

Transport committee  We can debate open skies anytime you like.

Transport committee  I'd like to add, too, that Mr. Mongeau has talked about his happy clients and service. I think you said that it's 95% delivery. I guess I would just make the point that if it is as good as he says it is, then I don't understand why there's a problem with providing access to a remedy.

Transport committee  No.

Transport committee  I wouldn't have that number, and it really varies from place to place to place.

Transport committee  You mentioned earlier that CP's largest customer has managed recently to put 15% of its product onto CN. That was one of the best things it's been able to do in recent years, because it is providing a little bit of competition.

Transport committee  I'm saying that they don't really do anything, so we're indifferent to them.

Transport committee  Yes, so it's not really achieving the objectives that I think the government—

Transport committee  It would make no difference.

Transport committee  I'll start with the last question and then ask François to speak to your first one. On the administrative penalties, our own view—and maybe Mr. Mongeau would agree with us on this one—is that I don't think they do anything. I don't think they address the heart of the issue at all.

Transport committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair, members of the committee, and fellow attendees. I am Pierre Gratton, president and CEO of the Mining Association of Canada. MAC is the national voice of Canada's mining and mineral processing industry. We represent both large shippers, such as Teck, CP's largest customer by far, and smaller shippers as well.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I think the issue of capacity and having enough qualified people to run the boards and agencies in a territory that has a population of about 50,000 is a challenge to begin with. There are probably more board members per capita in the Northwest Territories than anywhere else in the country, so it is an issue.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  To Rick's point, we're not suggesting in any way that the level of oversight or the level of scrutiny of resource development projects be diminished; it's a question of how it is managed and how it is regulated. I think there's a potential risk there; there are so many boards and agencies.