Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to all the witnesses.
I'd like to begin with Madame Bourque, because for us I think the SR and ED idea is a good one. We have the idea that it's good to create a Canadian economic advantage now that we've lost our currency weakness advantage. The first point would be significantly lower corporate tax rates, and the government followed suit on that in the economic statement.
I notice that Mr. Del Mastro dumped all over our proposal as pandering to Bay Street tycoons, but he may have realigned his view after the government announced they were going in that same direction.
I think SR and ED is also possibly creating an important Canadian advantage, as the place to do R and D is Canada and we have tax advantages. We've traditionally believed we have those advantages over the rest of the world. My question to you is whether these advantages may have been eroding, or maybe that is not the reality. Why do you think it's important for us to move in that direction?