Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd like to thank the witnesses for joining us on this bitterly cold Ottawa day.
Mr. Wescott, in your brief, you say,
The disappointing news is that 20 years after the coming into force of Canada's Agreement on Internal Trade (the AIT), there are more provincial protectionist measures regarding the sale and distribution of beverage alcohol than ever before. The damage to the economy from these measures is enormous with the misallocation of financial resources, marketing inefficiencies, reduced consumer choice, depressed international exports and missed growth opportunities.
Would you mind elaborating on that statement, to help enlighten the committee members and those who are watching us on CPAC?