Foreign Affairs committee  I was involved in the legislation of the foreign practices in the United States, which made it a criminal offence for U.S. corporations to bribe foreign government officials. The U.S. law actually preceded the OECD decisions and the Canadian law by some 20 years. We heard many of the same arguments about bribery: “Well, this is us imposing our own cultural and social norms on other countries.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you. Under the extractive industries transparency initiative, for example, which has now been endorsed by the G-8, by the G-20, and has wide support, including from the Canadian government, which is contributing to the trust fund that helps countries with implementation of the EITI, there is a strong recognition of the value of the transparency of payments from companies to governments in resource-producing countries.

Foreign Affairs committee  I can do that.

Foreign Affairs committee  I don't know. Mineral companies usually go, and have to go to stay in business, where the minerals are. The issue is really on what basis will they operate in the resource-rich countries where the mineral deposits are located? I would find it very surprising that someone would assert that Canadian companies will be put at a competitive disadvantage if they meet internationally recognized human rights and social and environmental standards.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman and honourable members of the committee. I'm very pleased to be provided time today to address the committee. I believe that Bill C-300.... [Technical difficulties] There are many voluntary codes for multinational corporations, including the UN's voluntary principles on security and human rights; the Global Reporting Initiative; the Equator Principles; the sustainable development framework of the International Council on Mining and Metals--and we have Tony Hodge from ICMM here; and the Kimberley Process for diamonds--to name just a few.