Thank you, Madam Chair.
I want to thank the witnesses for coming forward before the committee. All of us have found what they've had to say very interesting and very important. I think all of us should be troubled and concerned about the actions the government is taking to limit bidding, particularly by small and medium-sized businesses and enterprises, and to prevent access to that $600 million in contracts that has been spoken about.
I think this is quite a shame, and all of us are very much concerned about it. I hear there might be a motion coming from our colleagues in the Bloc, which I think is worthy of support. The statements have already been made by members, and the witnesses have also articulated quite well their concerns. I think all of us should share their concerns, because it doesn't make any sense at all what the government is doing at the moment.
I don't really have too many further questions. Maybe they have something they want to add, because all of us are concerned about competition out there, especially when we're dealing with businesses, some located here in the Ottawa area and in Canada, that are going against large multinational and foreign companies. They're not providing local jobs, as these companies are doing. Why would we favour them at the risk of not supporting our own domestic enterprises and businesses?
It's also true, Madam Chair, that these small companies, with a bit of support and over time, become large companies. They go from 40 employees to 400 to 4,000 employees. These are the companies that most likely will have success in the future, and we definitely have to be supportive and do everything we can I think as members of this committee to make sure they're given their fair share.
This is about fairness. It's about access for everybody, and it's about not limiting these particular bids. When they're given an opportunity, they're just as effective and they do just as well. In fact, they are beating the big companies when the tender is up and they bid. They're doing extremely well. And it seems that somebody has found a creative way to in fact eliminate these very successful businesses that are providing value for our money and for taxpayers. I find it a bit shocking that now, all of a sudden, they have limited access. If anything, if we want to have value for our dollar, what needs to be done is to provide access to everybody, not to limit access. I think they've articulated very well a very good case. Members around here have also expressed their deepest concern, shock, and dismay at what's taken place.
I don't know if there are any other comments they want to put forward. We have the picture, we know the picture, and now it's a question of whether the committee should act on it.
If there's any further time, they might have a comment or two to make.