Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would also like to thank all our witnesses for being here today.
I will start off with Mr. Littler, from the Retail Council of Canada.
I would like to hear your opinion in anticipation of the next budget, the 2018 budget, about the challenges facing retailers such as the ones we know, the most traditional ones, established in our streets, at home in Sherbrooke or elsewhere in Canada. In fact, merchants tell me about the competition from e-commerce, not only because the tax rules differ—not to mention taxes because they are foreign companies engaging in e-commerce—but also in terms of parcel delivery. One of my constituents, who is president of the Sherbrooke Chamber of Commerce, often gives the example of a product from China delivered to his neighbour. It would cost him more to send the same parcel to his neighbour, at the same address, from his house.
Do you think there is a serious problem with retail? Do you think we should be interested in this situation? How should we address this situation in the next budget?