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Militarily and economically -- and in most other ways -- Canada is a middle power, as befits a country of 34 million.

But in mining and other extractive industries, this country is a super power.

Most major -- and many minor -- mining and extractive companies are, at least in part, Canadian.

In Canada, those companies have to abide by Canadian labour and environmental laws. The current Conservative government is working hard to weaken both. But Canadian laws and regulations are still far more stringent than those of many countries where Canadian companies operate.