Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Let me welcome you once again, gentlemen, as we move on to this study. Thank you. More so, let me thank you on behalf of all of our constituents, because they are asking us these questions as well, since their daily livelihoods and their jobs are dependent on what happens with the meetings.
For example, David, you talked about what happens with the truckers association, the manufacturers, etc. We need to respond to our corporate constituents as well, the small, medium-, and large-sized enterprises, who want not just to do well but to survive.
In listening to your comments, I was really puzzled, and I don't know what message to take back to them. I'm going to be all over the map here for a moment, only because there were several things that were mentioned here.
David, you talked about your most recent meetings in the U.S. It seems to me there's some wonderful messaging. The Prime Minister's message was positive on security, for example, complemented by the President's. It seems that's where it stops, because I don't think the Americans have come out of this 9/11-George W. Bush bunker mentality. We all welcomed the message.
I want to ask one question and get a quick response, please, if I may. We have a committee here in Canada dedicated to seeing how we can enhance, improve, support, whatever, this wonderful relationship we have. Is there such a committee taking such a study on? We hear statistics of “we are”, “they are”, “greater numbers”, and “greatest trading partner”. Are they putting as much emphasis on this relationship as we are? Could I have just a quick response to that?