Very quickly, I would just like to say in French that my name is Charles Bernard and that I am the chief economist for the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association. The corporation represents 3,400 dealerships, accounting for 178,000 jobs in Canada, and contributes about $29 billion to the economy.
I would also like to say, once again in French, that we welcome the pragmatic approach rooted in market reality that the federal government has adopted. There are nonetheless still parts of the strategy that need to be adjusted, the first being to ensure that this mandate is removed, for all the reasons mentioned in previous consultations. It is not just a question of removing it while we wait for further consultations on the regulations to be completed. That creates uncertainty for the sector.
Lastly, as Mr. Reuss said, we must prevent provincial strongholds that add trade barriers which, for manufacturers and dealers and particularly for consumers, have a major financial impact in terms of cost and availability for the purchase of vehicles.
We will be pleased to answer your questions.