Thank you for your comments. I think you have accurately given a synopsis of the issue. Something that I am growing more and more concerned about is the breakdown of national science-based standards. The examples I used in the brief are only just two examples. There are others. For example, my members in British Columbia have raised concerns about localized bans on products of modern biotechnology. We need to be careful in Canada that we don't close the door to investment in new products and in new seed varieties, because of our regulatory risk. That regulatory risk will be substantially increased if we have a patchwork of differing regulations across the country, and in each different region, and sometimes in municipalities.
I think your study on interprovincial trade barriers is an ideal time to address this concern, because I really do believe that the Agreement on Internal Trade is an ideal vehicle to bring forward mechanisms that would help resolve some of these differing regulations across the country. This is precisely the kind of vehicle that we are incorporating into our international trade agreements. I think you have an ideal opportunity now to make those recommendations, to bring that resolution process into Canada, and to ensure that patchwork of regulations doesn't occur in Canada.