Finance Committee on May 20th, 2021

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

I call the meeting to order.

Welcome to meeting number 47 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the committee's motion adopted on Tuesday, April 27, the committee is meeting to study the subject matter of Bill C-30, an act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 19, 2021, and other measures.

Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, pursuant to the House order of January 25; therefore, members are attending in person in the room and remotely by using the Zoom application. The proceedings will be made available via the House of Commons website.

So that you're all aware, the program shows the person speaking rather than the full slate of witnesses and committee members. The camera is on only the one who is speaking.

That being said, welcome to all witnesses. I ask that witnesses try to hold their comments to about five minutes. That way, we'll have as much time as possible for questions.

We'll start with the Canadian Cancer Society. We have Kelly Masotti, vice-president, advocacy; Rob Cunningham, senior policy analyst; and Stephen Piazza, senior manager.

Who's on? Kelly, is it you?

[Kelly Masotti, Vice-President, Advocacy, Canadian Cancer Society]

Yes, Mr. Easter.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

You're on, Kelly.

[Kelly Masotti]

Thank you, Mr. Chair and members of Parliament.

On behalf of the Canadian Cancer Society, thank you for the opportunity to appear before the committee today.

My name is Kelly Masotti. I'm the vice-president of advocacy. With me is Rob Cunningham, senior policy analyst, and Stephen Piazza, senior manager of advocacy.

In our testimony we would like to emphasize two provisions in Bill C-30 that we strongly support. These are an extension of the employment insurance sickness benefit from 15 to 26 weeks, as outlined in part 4, division 36, of the bill, and the increase in tobacco taxes, as outlined in part 3 of the bill.

Bill C-30 includes a much-needed commitment to the extension of the employment insurance sickness benefit to support people facing the financial burden that comes with a cancer diagnosis. The proposed extension from 15 to 26 weeks will have a very positive impact on people living with cancer, and we strongly encourage all MPs to support this important change.

When Canadians face cancer, their struggle is not just medical but also financial. In addition to a decrease in income, they also face a rise in expenses, such as for medications, medical travel, parking and home care costs. The stress of this financial burden affects their emotional well-being and therefore their psychosocial needs.

As Canadians live longer and have longer careers, more people are likely to develop an illness while in the workforce. With nearly one in two Canadians expected to develop cancer in their lifetime and more than one million Canadians living with and beyond cancer, there is a critical need to provide additional support.

This extension will have a major impact on the lives of those living with cancer. At 26 weeks, it will align with the compassionate care benefit for caregivers, which was extended in 2016.

National Ipsos polling data found that 88% of Canadians support extending the sickness benefit to 26 weeks, whether funded by employers or out of their own pocket. Similarly, 84% support an extension to 50 weeks.

It is estimated that 77% of sickness benefit claimants who exhaust the 15 weeks do not return to work immediately. About three-quarters of these claimants took at least an additional 26 weeks off work.

For the hundreds of thousands of Canadians living with cancer, financial burden and illness are a day-to-day reality. The issue has only been heightened as a result of COVID, and supports for those with cancer have never been needed more.

I will now turn things over to Rob regarding tobacco taxes.

[Rob Cunningham, Senior Policy Analyst, Canadian Cancer Society]

The Canadian Cancer Society strongly supports the tobacco tax increase in the bill of $4 per carton of 200 cigarettes. Higher tobacco taxes are the most effective strategy to reduce smoking, especially among youth.

Tobacco remains the leading preventable cause of disease and death in Canada, killing almost 48,000 Canadians each year and causing 30% of cancer deaths. Higher tobacco taxes are a win-win, improving both public health and public revenue, with the budget indicating $2.1 billion in incremental revenue over five years from the tobacco tax increase. Thank you to this committee for its pre-budget recommendation to increase tobacco taxes.

Successive federal finance ministers have recognized the importance of higher tobacco taxes, including Michael Wilson, Paul Martin, Jim Flaherty and Bill Morneau. The strategy over time has worked, and Canadians are supportive. Canadians do not want kids to smoke.

Tobacco companies raise the issue of contraband, as they always do. However, tobacco companies have increased their own net-of-tax prices by $20.20 per carton over a seven-year period. There's no indication that these price increases have led to higher contraband. The tobacco industry has no credibility when it says government should not increase tobacco taxes, yet at the same time has massive price increases of its own. These manufacturer price increases have resulted in $2 billion in additional revenue per year going to tobacco companies, revenue that should be going to governments.

The budget also includes a tax on vaping products—though not in this bill—effective in 2022, a measure that we also strongly support to respond to the dramatic increase in youth vaping.

We welcome your questions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Thank you both very much.

We turn now to Kevin Lee, chief executive officer of the Canadian Home Builders' Association.

Welcome back, Kevin.

[Kevin Lee, Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Home Builders' Association]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

For the residential construction sector, building back better is something we do every day. As we look towards recovery from COVID, several things are clear. A home is more important than ever to Canadians, and we've seen that through the extensive activity in renovations, new construction, DIY activity and home resales. Through these challenging times, Canadians have looked to their homes to be their workplaces, classrooms, gyms, places to relax, and hopefully, for most, places to feel safe.

New construction and renovation are providing much-needed jobs and economic activity during economic recovery.

When we talk about housing these days, though, of course affordability is top of mind, both in the cost of housing and in the cost of materials, particularly lumber, and more supply is the key to both. Starting with affordability, a housing supply lens is required to truly address escalating prices. This was clear prior to COVID, and the pandemic has accentuated that further. There is much that can be done through concerted efforts of all levels of government to increase supply, and there are important leadership levers available to the federal government to help make that happen.

At the same time, while it may be tempting to try to cool the market with demand-side measures, such activity only creates pent-up demand and limits supply. Band-aid demand-side measures cause rapidly increasing house prices when conditions change and demand outstrips supply again, as we are seeing right now. The use of blanket macroprudential or policy changes that could further disproportionately affect first-time buyers in the absence of sufficient action on new housing supply will only exacerbate the problem.

As OSFI considers changes for uninsured mortgages, it is important that consideration of any such changes by the Department of Finance to the insured mortgage stress test be approached with caution. First-time buyers who are extremely well positioned financially and are very low risk would be locked out through such measures, further building up demand and crowding the rental stock.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Kevin, I hate to interrupt, but I expect the translators are having a little problem keeping up with you. You're going fairly fast. Just slow down a bit.

[Kevin Lee]

Okay. Will do.

Before any measures are introduced for insured mortgages, there should be a thorough review of the existing mortgage system through a lens of fairness and access for first-time home buyers. Other adjustments, like longer-term seven-year or 10-year mortgages, as encouraged by the Bank of Canada, and 30-year amortization periods for first-time buyers, would be better routes in the insured mortgage space.

On the supply side, the federal government should use its financial and suasion levers to encourage and support provincial and municipal government efforts to streamline permitting and approval processes to speed up construction, reduce project financing costs and bring more supply online faster. It should provide leadership through CMHC on the key challenges to new construction, which are zoning restrictions, density limits, process delays and, very importantly, Nimbyism, including not just social but market-rate housing.

CHBA was pleased to see support in the budget for a conversion of commercial space to residential and further recommends that conversion guide such retrofits to support those efforts.

CHBA was also pleased to see the expansion in the budget of the rapid housing initiative and recommends the extension of the timelines to better reflect true construction timelines, especially given supply chain volatility.

As well, the success in cutting through red tape of the RHI shows that federal leadership of a similar type could also be used to accelerate market-rate housing supply.

Also related to supply, CHBA was pleased to see the emphasis by the government on skilled workers and apprenticeships, with labour shortages already a challenge. With some 22% of the construction workforce set to retire over the coming decade, getting more young Canadians into the industry is essential.

With respect to lumber, industry and consumers are currently incurring tens of thousands of dollars in cost increases for new homes, negatively affecting builders with contracts already in place, challenging the viability of projects and even businesses, and further deteriorating affordability for consumers. Due to material shortages, closing times on new houses are now delayed across the country by an average of six weeks, according to a recent survey of our members. Builders and developers are now starting to pull back on housing pre-sales and starts due to material price volatility and supply concerns. This will only further add to the housing supply shortage. The federal government needs to investigate all issues related to the Canadian lumber supply and investigate potential solutions to ensure a reliable and increased supply within Canada now and in the future.

Finally, with respect to energy efficiency and climate change, CHBA is pleased to see the support being provided to energy retrofits. The greener homes initiative grants and support for energy advisers, plus the addition of the $40,000 loan program, all based on the EnerGuide rating system, will help make big strides where there is the most to gain with respect to GHGs in the housing sector and existing housing stock. The requirements to keep receipts will very importantly help fight the underground economy.

On the new construction side, CHBA continues to lead with its Net Zero Energy Housing Council and home labelling program, which has now labelled over 600 homes across the country and is leading the way in finding the best way to reach these levels of performance while also addressing barriers to broader diffusion, such as affordability.

At the same time, CHBA continues to caution against regulating higher levels in code before more affordable solutions are found and encourages the government to invest more in innovation to do so.

Thank you very much for your time today. I look forward to answering any questions you may have.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Thank you very much, Kevin.

We will turn now to the National Council of Unemployed Workers and Pierre Céré, spokesperson.

Go ahead, Mr. Céré.

[Pierre Céré, Spokesperson, National Council of Unemployed Workers]

Mr. Chair and members of the committee, good morning and thank you for inviting me.

The public health crisis we have been in since the spring of 2020 is coupled with an economic crisis, the likes of which we have not known in our lifetimes.

Last year alone, between mid-March and late September 2020—about seven months—nine million people lost their jobs. That is equivalent to 45% of the workforce. Those nine million people received the Canada emergency response benefit, or CERB, for an average of three months. The CERB was replaced by the Canada recovery benefit, or CRB. At the end of September, the government put the employment insurance, or EI, system back on track, introducing flexible measures that were practically akin to genuine program reforms. The measures are nevertheless temporary.

To gain a clear and unbiased understanding of the country's employment realities, we need only look to the EI numbers. From September 27, 2020 to May 9, 2021, a period of about seven months, 4.1 million EI claims were processed. Currently, 2.3 million people are receiving benefits. In terms of the CRB, if we take the three types of benefits into account, a total of 2.8 million people have received benefits since September 27 of last year.

In a recent study, the International Monetary Fund, or IMF, recommended that Canada “avoid a premature withdrawal of fiscal and monetary support” and highlighted that “the lessons from the crisis represent an excellent opportunity to review the EI system, including its role as an automatic stabilizer.” The IMF was right to say as much.

However, the objectives of the Budget Implementation Act, 2021, No. 1, are not entirely consistent with the IMF's position. Under division 35 of part 4, the measures to extend the CRB stipulate that, for the last eight weeks, or the new weeks after July 18, 2021, the amount of the benefit will be reduced to $300 a week, and at best, the September 25 cut-off date could be extended to November 20, 2021. Members of the Standing Committee on Finance, if it is within your power, I urge you to propose an amendment to the bill that would standardize the benefit amount at $500.

Division 36 of part 4 deals with EI and is clearly very complex. Some temporary measures will remain in place for a year, so 2021-22, but 2022 will mark a return to the status quo.

We welcome the temporary supports announced by the government, including measures to apply a single eligibility threshold of 420 hours to the entire country, to ensure penalties associated with separation from employment take into account only the most recent separation, to ensure that severance pay no longer has an impact on EI benefits, and to provide seasonal workers in 13 economic regions access to an additional five weeks of benefits.

However, the measures fail to address two areas. The first is the calculation of the benefit rate. The government is reverting to the status quo with a variable divisor determined by the unemployment rate. However, under the temporary measure currently in place, the divisor is 14 weeks. The second is the benefit period. Again, the government is reverting to the status quo with benefit periods that are too short. These gaps could have been avoided had the government renewed the temporary measures establishing the divisor at 14 and provided a universal benefit period of 50 weeks.

As a result of those gaps, the government is not helping regions in the same way. Some will actually be penalized, even though the entire country is feeling the effects of the pandemic.

Lastly, extending the duration of sickness benefits from 15 to 26 weeks is a historic and meaningful step, but why wait until next year? Why is it not being implemented until August 2022?

The government is delaying its plans to reform the EI system. So be it, but in the meantime, it should put temporary measures in place to provide the support people need. The government needs to act swiftly to close the gaps and remedy the shortcomings. Furthermore, it is imperative that the commission the government appoints to review the program and make recommendations, complete its work within a year, not two years.

Canada is the architect of great achievements on the world stage. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is but one. Domestically, health insurance was a triumph for the country. The social safety net is critically important in responding to unemployment and crises, and the government must act accordingly.

On behalf of our organization, I urge the Standing Committee on Finance to bring forward solutions to the serious flaws in divisions 35 and 36 of part 4 of Bill C-30.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Thank you very much, Mr. Céré.

We'll turn, then, to the United Steelworkers. We have Ken Neumann, national director for Canada, and George Soule, government liaison officer.

You're on, Mr. Neumann.

[Ken Neumann, National Director for Canada, National Office, United Steelworkers]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Thanks as well to the clerk and the committee staff, the interpreters and the committee members for the opportunity to join you here today.

I am Ken Neumann, the national director for Canada for the United Steelworkers Union. Our union represents more than 825,000 workers in North America, including 225,000 workers in virtually every economic sector and region of Canada. I would like to add our voice to acknowledge the history that was made when Minister Freeland became the first woman to table a budget in Canada. It's well past due.

Another historic piece of this budget is the scope of the need people across Canada are facing. COVID-19 has hit and is still hitting people very hard. As a union, we are focused every day on fighting for our members, fighting to keep them safe and secure in their jobs. We also serve them by fighting to make Canada a stronger, fairer and more equitable place. By raising the bar for everyone, we can keep raising it even higher at the bargaining table. That's the lens we used to look at Bill C-30.

If you forget about pharmacare—because the Liberal government did—this big budget can look as though there is a little something here for almost everyone. That includes some important changes that improve labour standards, stop contract-flipping in airports, provide for a federal minimum wage and increase protection for some pensions. We are very happy to see changes that we were calling for. Of course, we're hopeful to see the promise of child care become a reality.

In between a lot of big spending, the government has failed to get some of the big things right. COVID-19 made major holes in programs such as employment insurance impossible to ignore. The changes that were brought in to fix EI during the pandemic, including creating a federal role in paid sick days, should be made permanent, not cancelled before COVID-19 is even behind us.

The budget barely scratches the surface of making the ultra-wealthy pay their share. While the government is slashing CRB supports by 40% from their CERB levels, they're doing nothing to claw back money from some big corporations that, in bad faith, took money through the wage subsidy program. By not going retroactive, the Liberals are letting big businesses that threw people out of work and handed big bonuses to bosses and shareholders off the hook.

The budget does include some good skills training and retraining programs, but too often it seems that protecting jobs was an afterthought. The government needs to connect the dots when it comes to creating a real industrial and job creation strategy. With a supply chain that brings materials and parts back and forth across the border, there are more workers involved in the auto industry than auto workers. In all the talk about zero-emission vehicles, there is no explicit strategy tied to that supply chain.

Obviously there is a lot of potential in the $15 billion promised for public transit, but where will the materials be sourced? As with other infrastructure announcements and commitments in this budget, there are no requirements to use domestically manufactured materials. There are no sustainability and emissions conditions either.

Knowing where our steel, aluminum and other products are from is crucial to the development of a North American approach to procurement and infrastructure, which is how we get an exemption to the buy America provisions. To that end, we are advocating for a North American “buy clean” strategy, which would prioritize the environmental impact of materials used in construction projects.

A recent buy clean report prepared by Blue Green Canada shows that steel, aluminum, cement and wood products produced here in Canada have some of the lowest carbon emissions in the entire world. This strategic approach would allow Canadians workers to benefit from President Biden's massive infrastructure, environment and jobs investment.

You have a partner with the United Steelworkers in working with the Biden administration to make that strategy a reality. From the carbon border adjustments to improving worker access to Canada’s trade remedy system, we look forward to consultations on border measures that are tied to clear procurement strategies that maintain and create jobs.

Before the budget was tabled, I said that it needed to support everyday people and help make sure that workers have jobs to support their families today and into the future. With some important changes, I believe it can be done. This budget tries in many ways to look like it is doing a lot towards that end.

Again, I thank you for the opportunity to be with you today, and George and I look forward to any questions that you may have.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Thank you very much, Mr. Neumann.

We'll now go to the Habitat for Humanity Canada with Julia Deans, president and CEO.

Go ahead, Ms. Deans.

[Julia Deans, President and Chief Executive Officer, Habitat for Humanity Canada]

Bonjour, Mr. Chair and committee members. Thank you so much for this opportunity.

I'm coming to you from Toronto, the traditional territory of many nations and now home to many diverse first nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

As Canada's only national affordable home ownership provider, Habitat Canada and our 50 local Habitats partner with homeowners, volunteers, donors and governments to help families living with low incomes, including indigenous families on and off traditional territories, to build strength, stability and independence through affordable home ownership.

Habitat families buy their homes and make mortgage payments that don't exceed 30% of their income. Even with mortgages, they build equity that helps them educate their kids, start businesses and weather storms like COVID-19.

Housing is so much more than bricks and mortar. Investing in it creates safe and resilient communities and will boost jobs and our economy so that we can build back better. According to the FCM, every billion dollars invested in housing generates $1.5 billion in economic growth.

COVID-19 has made us all keenly aware that home ownership matters for every social determinant of health: shelter, health, security, stability and work. Home ownership lifts families and helps them build bright futures for themselves and their children.

In Canada, home ownership is the single greatest enabler of multigenerational economic advancement. Almost 70% of white Canadian families own their homes, but only 30% of Black families. We must democratize the pathways to home ownership and wealth creation. If we don't, we are cementing the barriers to racial and economic equality.

Our desire to do much more is why Habitat partnered with CMHC through the national housing co-investment fund. We're leveraging close to $36 million in forgivable loans to create more than 400 new affordable homes. We're delivering well on our three-year commitment, creating homes all over Canada in communities from Whitehorse to Mission, Calgary, Winnipeg, London, Montreal and the Lennox Island first nation in P.E.I., with more builds coming this year. Most of the families benefiting face multiple barriers to home ownership, and 35% are single mothers.

Habitat's record is why last December we were chosen to create housing for Black families in another federal government project. Its $20-million commitment will help Habitat build 200 more new homes across Canada. All told, we plan to deliver over 600 new affordable homes to families in need with this critical co-investment funding.

Knowing the value of the co-investment fund, we were really pleased to see budget 2021 move almost a billion dollars forward into it for the next two years. This additional investment is well timed to support recovery efforts, but to activate it, the government needs partners like Habitat. We've proven that we leverage government contributions to attract more funding from other donors and make affordable homes a reality for families who need them.

We are proud to have delivered and proud that other charities are now being referred to us to discuss our successful participation in the co-investment fund. This is good, because when it comes to improving housing access and affordability, the charitable sector is a key contributor, and we can be counted on to recycle investments into more and more new homes.

We're ready to continue scaling our contribution, but we need the government to partner with us by continuing to invest alongside us, our donors and the low-income families we serve, as it does so well through the co-investment fund. We are currently working to renew our agreement with CMHC. We've tooled our Habitat federation to execute well and to grow our impact through the co-investment fund. We want to again stress the importance of adding to that fund through the proposed budget, because it will allow the government to to invest together with families, donors and charities across Canada to create affordable housing that will not happen otherwise.

Government investments in affordable housing are essential, and a loan is not an investment. If we were commercial developers flipping homes and taking out our profits every few years, a loan might be just fine, but we are investing in the long-term future of families and the long-term supply of the affordable housing stock they need. We and other charities and not-for-profits need more than a borrower-lender relationship. We need government to be a true partner, one that will leverage our resources and vice versa for the benefit of families.

We appreciate the strong working relationship we've built with Romy Bowers and her team at CMHC, and hope very much to renew our partnership on terms that make sense for the families we serve and want to serve.

In the meantime, we urge you to support continued investment in the national housing strategy and in organizations like ours that are here to help.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Thanks very much, Ms. Deans.

Before I turn to our last witnesses, I will just give committee members the lineup for the first round of questions. It will be Mr. Vis, followed by Mr. Fragiskatos, Mr. Ste-Marie and Mr. Julian.

From Habitat for Humanity, Halton-Mississauga Dufferin, we have Michael Brush, who is the interim CEO.

Michael, I understand you had a bit of a jogging accident very recently. Thanks for being here just the same.

The floor is yours.

[Michael Brush, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga Dufferin]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair and committee members.

I am Mike Brush, interim CEO of Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga Dufferin region and representing 10 Ontario municipalities.

I'd also like to acknowledge Julia Deans, our partner at Habitat Canada. She spoke very eloquently of our cause.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak today and to share our comments in relation to the 2021 federal budget.

[The Clerk of the Committee, Mr. Alexandre Roger]

Mr. Easter, the sound is not good enough for interpretation. It is very low. I think Mr. Brush is holding the microphone with his hand.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Mr. Brush, I will just interrupt for a second. You might be covering the microphone with your hand. Hold it fairly close to your lips. The interpreters are having a hard job catching the sound.

Go ahead.

[Michael Brush]

How is this? Is this better?

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

I believe that is a little better, yes. Try it.

[Michael Brush]

I apologize. This was last minute, and we didn't have an opportunity to replace our microphones.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Give it a try anyway. Go ahead.

[Michael Brush]

At Habitat for Humanity, our vision is to create a world in which everyone has a safe and decent place to live. As we know, COVID-19 has created many new challenges for our communities, while exacerbating others that existed prior to the pandemic, including affordable housing. Today, more than ever, Canadians need a safe and decent place to shelter, live, and work. That's why Habitat for Humanity is continuing to urge the Government of Canada to invest in the full range of affordable housing along the affordable housing continuum; from emergency shelters to home ownership and other equity-building models. We can't focus on only one part of the continuum; we all need safe and appropriate housing we can afford.

In Canada, home ownership is the single greatest enabler of multi-generational economic advancement. Home ownership provides people with the stability of an adequate place to live as well as a pathway to build wealth and equity for their families. People can use the equity to start businesses, to finance their children's education, plan for a secure retirement, and pass on wealth to the next generation.

When it comes to the health of children and youth, housing impacts their ability to develop optimally and achieve life's goals. It is important to note that home ownership and equity-based housing models also help municipalities manage their limited resources. These models relieve pressure on social and emergency housing, for which community lists can be several years long.

Habitat for Humanity has called for an increase in the national housing strategy and is pleased to see the government moving forward with $750 million in funding for the national housing co-investment fund and adding $1.5 billion to its rapid housing initiative, with at least 25% going to woman-focused housing. These funds, combined with investments in affordable housing innovation, a homelessness strategy, and rental and transitional housing, will provide badly needed housing and smooth the pathway to affordable home ownership for many families across Canada.

In that context, the budget contains some important new investments in housing and homelessness, building on the national housing strategy. However, the 2021 budget does not go far enough or fast enough. It does not make important progress toward ending homelessness by 2030. We acknowledge this government's commitment towards continuing to invest in the national housing strategy to support those most vulnerable with shelter and with supportive and transitional housing.

Habitat for Humanity presented its recommendations in the pre-budget submission for the 2021 federal budget. These items include the following: advancing the national housing strategy with increased, deep and accelerated investments for CMHC programs, including the new rapid housing initiative; continuing the attention to improve the application process and terms and conditions for program participants, particularly with an emphasis on having less red tape; increasing access to lands for affordable housing providers, including through the federal lands initiative and a new property acquisitions program; and incenting other levels of government to facilitate the creation of more affordable housing, including through land designations, buildings, zoning processes, and differentiated taxes and fees.

By leveraging community partners like Habitat for Humanity, the Government of Canada will alleviate some of the severe financial pressure confronting cities and communities and help their low-income families to create the homes they need to build their futures and to rebuild and sustain local economies.

We asked the federal government to commit to the goal of having all Canadians able to afford a home that meets their needs by 2030, backed by a comprehensive plan for achieving this goal. We will continue to work collaboratively and in partnership with all levels government to help achieve this.

Once again, thank you for the opportunity to speak with you. As is everyone else, I'm open to answering any questions.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Thank you very much, Mr. Brush.

Thank you to all the witnesses.

Before I turn to Mr. Vis and the first round of questions, Mr. Neumann, in your presentation—before I forget later—you mentioned the Blue Green Canada report. Could you send the link or the copy of that report to the clerk? That might be helpful.

On Tuesday I had a meeting with 11 U.S. senators, an all-party committee meeting. Steel came up in the buy America discussion, so maybe we'd better pay attention.