Subcommittee of the Standing Committee on Finance on Bill C-38 committee  I'm not sure I understand.

Subcommittee of the Standing Committee on Finance on Bill C-38 committee  I look at it as a continuation of the 2010 amendments, but to the other elements of the act, the screening level assessments and the panel review. They are largely consistent with what they had already done in 2010 to comprehensive studies.

Subcommittee of the Standing Committee on Finance on Bill C-38 committee  I think there are many measures in this proposed legislation with respect to CEAA that will improve the environmental assessment process. For example, it's going to be much clearer than it used to be. They're eliminating dead time and confusion at the front end of projects and throughout the process.

Subcommittee of the Standing Committee on Finance on Bill C-38 committee  But I haven't finished answering.

Subcommittee of the Standing Committee on Finance on Bill C-38 committee  With respect to some of the concerns we have with CEAA—well, actually we don't have any major concerns with CEAA. We think this proposed legislation is one of the finest pieces of work we've seen coming out of the federal government with respect to EA ever. But there will be the need for more clarity through regulations, which is normal.

Subcommittee of the Standing Committee on Finance on Bill C-38 committee  It's very rare to see a new mine brought in today without an agreement of some kind, a socio-economic agreement, an impact benefit agreement, that includes as well employment guarantees, business procurement, etc. That is the way at present. It's certainly going to be the way of the future, and I think all of the new mining projects we're talking about over the next decade or so will include those types of agreements.

Subcommittee of the Standing Committee on Finance on Bill C-38 committee  I would agree with what my colleague has said.

Subcommittee of the Standing Committee on Finance on Bill C-38 committee  I don't think it should make any difference. First of all, for mining projects we fully expect to have mines on the list that will follow in regulations, so we expect the same number of projects to be assessed in the future as have been up to now. In fact, we've even speculated that we might end up having more projects, as some brownfield sites, which are mines that are being developed on already disturbed mining areas, may fall under the new definitions.

Subcommittee of the Standing Committee on Finance on Bill C-38 committee  Of course, it's a major issue. There are many different ways of looking at this. If you're a junior company trying to bring a mine into production, time is everything, and delays in projects, or the uncertainties built into projects that can lead to delays, can literally kill a project.

Subcommittee of the Standing Committee on Finance on Bill C-38 committee  Thank you, distinguished members of the committee, clerk, staff, and observers, for the opportunity to appear before you today in the examination of this important piece of legislation. My name is Pierre Gratton. I'm president and CEO of the Mining Association of Canada. MAC represents the national voice of the mining industry.

Foreign Affairs committee  Reaction...?

Foreign Affairs committee  I've found myself agreeing with her most of the afternoon. For our members, certainly, our primary interest is that there be something that applies equally to all and is the same: that the reporting standards don't vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and that we can all have a global approach.

Foreign Affairs committee  Well, there are two parts. I said earlier that there's an increasing recognition that transparency is good for business. There is an issue between mining versus oil and gas and transparency of royalty payments. Oil and gas royalties tend to dwarf ours. There are some fundamental reasons for that.

Foreign Affairs committee  Is that for me or for...?

Foreign Affairs committee  I'll leave you with that. You're better placed than I.