The focus of this discussion paper is the application of the sustainable development concept in the context of mineral exploration and in the first two stages of mineral & metal production. The introduction sets out the context, noting the challenge of sustainable development and the need to address challenges of an economic & social nature as well as environmental challenges. Part I explains how sustainable development applies to minerals & metals and presents concepts for implementing sustainable development in that sector. Part II reviews the nature of the Canadian minerals & metals industry and the importance of the industry to the economy. The role of the federal government in the minerals & metals sector and the environment is described in part III. Part IV examines the sustainable development challenges facing the minerals & metals industry and proposes 32 policy guidelines to address them. The challenges are grouped under five broad headings: improved decision-making, sustainable operations, exploration & development, social infrastructure, and international leadership. Part V looks at the government role in science & technology and considers Natural Resources Canada's strategic renewal document and the Memorandum of Understanding that the department entered into with three other natural resource departments. Part VI concludes with a summary of the key themes raised in the paper and the next steps in a consultative process to develop a new federal mineral & metal policy based on sustainable development.