Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you for being here. I appreciate your coming on short notice. I don't share the same grief as my colleagues on the other side about the minister not being here. If I recall correctly, in 2011 he didn't show up for five months.
My constituents and I would like to know how ready we are with free trade agreements that are going to come into force. I'm thinking about CETA, and I know there are technicality issues. Is your department working on those? I'm thinking about hog farmers and cattle farmers with regard to slaughterhouse provisions. It seems as though our other partners are dragging their feet. What's the role of your department in this?