Thank you very much.
Thank you, Minister, for being here.
Earlier you mentioned some examples of organizations across the country that represent self-employed people who support this bill. I've been hearing from a lot of people well before this, and in fact, going back to the previous election and before that. There were different ones who were advocating--or agitating, if you will--for us to have a program like this. As a party, we indicated then that we would be supportive of such a move. That was part of the platform and all. So I've received some fairly good comments in my interactions here.
You're a very busy minister, I know, but you do get out of Ottawa. You get back into your riding and you get across the country a great deal more than I do, so could you expand a little on the reaction you've received from Canadians who are affected by the changes?
The second part of my question is about how we have made the program optional rather than mandatory. I assume there to be some good reasons for that, at least at this juncture. You may want to comment in respect of that as well.
But just the general reaction, I guess, that you've monitored and maybe got directly from your own constituency.... I know that's where you want to serve well, not only as a minister for the nation, but in regard to your own constituency. What has been the reaction? Does it reflect what others among us have been hearing with respect to a positive response in the country?