On behalf of my British Columbian colleagues, welcome to our trade committee, and thank you for welcoming us and being part of these important talks.
We've had an opportunity to spend some time out on the east coast, in Halifax, to listen to some of our friends in eastern Canada. Witnesses have come to the committee over the last several months to look at the economic benefits since the agreement was announced and prior to its announcement. This has been a work in progress for the past five years, and as you mentioned, it's not going to happen overnight.
We had the European Union ambassador at our committee last week. The EU has to translate it into 23 different languages, and it's a couple more years before it comes into effect. It is a historic trade agreement. It seems like a natural fit for British Columbia. I think the EU is about our fourth-largest trading partner. There are a lot of cultural ties. There are strong economic and environmental labour policies. They tend to bode well. You mentioned the professional perspectives.
I have a couple of questions based on your comments, gentlemen.
James, in your preamble, you mentioned the growth opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses, the SMEs. We know that about a million SMEs are exporting, the majority of them to the U.S. How do we get them to see those opportunities? One of the reasons we're out here, too, is to educate and create awareness.
From your industry perspective both of you, Jock and James, is there something the government can do to partner with the EU to help your members become more aware of these potential trading opportunities and partnerships down the road?