Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Gentlemen, thank you for being here.
In recent months, manufacturing sector representatives have told us that one major factor contributing to their competitiveness problems was energy costs and, consequently, the cost of transportation.
However, if we compare the costs of energy in Canada, for your three industries, to costs in competing countries -- like China, India and Brazil -- are prices equivalent? All other things being equal, if these countries are following the global trend, are you really facing any particular disadvantage?
Are variations in the cost of energy in developing countries, which are our major competitors, in any way an additional advantage? Do they benefit from a protected price, unlike in Canada, where we pay the market price, at least for our oil? For electricity, it's another matter. Is there more protectionism in developing countries? That may not apply so much to natural gas.