This morning, there was an article in the Globe and Mail reporting that Mr. Obama's investment plan—he's going to spend a lot of money—doesn't contain any protectionist measures in relation to the U.S. government's expenditures. However, where expenditures are made by states or major cities, there will be an obligation to buy from American suppliers.
There is a very concrete case in my riding. A business that sells aluminum was told by an American client that it had unfortunately received an order to buy from a U.S. supplier. You said so yourself: we have a very integrated economy. A spokesperson for the water and sewer equipment manufacturer's association even said this will paralyze the economy.
Let's suppose you are the prime minister of Canada or that you hold a top-level position. What could you do to convince the people concerned in the United States that there is no basis for this practice because it harms both the Canadian and U.S. economies? Given your knowledge of the United States, what would you do to find a solution to this situation, at least in the short term?