You negotiate a comprehensive EPA that includes the issue of addressing non-tariff barriers. Mr. Slomp referred to canola. It's true. We would like to see Canadian producers being able to add value to canola to sell it into Japan as oil or as other byproducts. We think that the EPA is a good opportunity to be able to negotiate such provisions. If you negotiate a broad, ambitious EPA, the negotiators will be able to deal with non-tariff barriers as well as tariff barriers and a whole host of other issues that will allow for opportunities to add value to products.
One-fourth of our organization's 120 members are foreign multinationals, CEOs of foreign multinationals. They would not be here if Canada was not an advanced society from which they can continue to do business, sell products, get plugged into global supply chains, buy goods and services from small, medium, and large enterprises, and take advantage of this incredible country that we've been able to develop.
The same goes for Canadian multinationals who work abroad. What Mr. Slomp and Ms. Bronson are trying to convey is that global corporations don't care about where they are. But they really care about Canada. I worked for the council for 21 years and I cannot tell you how many times I've been impressed with the CEOs who have declared how great it is to be able to work and lead organizations, to work with a group of people such as the Canadians working for our members.
It is fundamentally at odds with the overall impression that you're receiving. If Canadian large enterprises were as these two individuals describe, the country wouldn't be nearly as successful as it is. It would be a waste land. But it simply isn't the case.