Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'd also like to thank our witnesses for joining us this afternoon to present their views on Bill C-303.
Speaking more directly to Mr. Lévesque, Ms. Bélanger and Ms. Elson, I'd like to say that despite your status within a so-called bipolar system, I appreciate the fact that you have overcome this situation and emphasized the positive side of this for society. You have put your personal interests aside. I appreciate that very much, particularly as your experience with the existing system is well recognized today. That doesn't take away from the fact that you have rights and interests to defend.
As parliamentarians, we also must gather information from all interested parties. Recently, on April 20 in fact, we heard from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business which voiced an entirely different opinion. Yet, it also professes to speak on your behalf. Its findings were at the opposite end of the spectrum. It noted the following:
To ensure that new daycare spaces can always be created on the basis of demand, we urge you and your committee to reject this bill and ask that all jurisdictions work together to ensure [...]
Am I to understand then that the federation is not speaking for you and that you distance yourself from this position?