Mr. Gosselin, Mr. Greig, good morning and thank you for being here today.
My questions will primarily be on safeguard measures. As you are aware, several Quebec companies, including some from the bicycle sector, have asked that safeguard measures be introduced to protect them from competition from Asian companies. I imagine that you are also familiar with the barbecue issue.
In the bicycle sector, as you are aware, following an inquiry, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal recommended that safeguard measures be introduced. The process is often very complex and costly for businesses. Preparing a case for the Canadian International Trade Tribunal requires hundred of thousands of dollars.
The government did not introduced safeguard measures in response to the Tribunal's recommendation. I believe that this might have been for political reasons. Perhaps the government thought that if it introduced safeguard measures in vulnerable sectors, other countries would follow suit, and so on. In that regard, you know quite well the issues I am talking about.
I find it disheartening to see companies spending a fortune to state their case before the Canadian International Trade Tribunal. Even if unfair competition is proven, the government has the last word and can choose not to implement safeguard measures. This is in spite of the fact that these businesses have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars.
In Quebec, the furniture sector filed a request seeking safeguard measures; or should I say, try to do something in response to the threat it faces. The industry is very vulnerable to international competition. As I understand it, the Tribunal undertook a cost analysis and stated that this study was to be divided into seven, more detailed sections. I am sure that you are familiar with the file. When those working in the furniture sector realized that the government had ignored the Tribunal 's recommendations on the bicycle sector, they decided that, rather than spending $300,000, $400,000 or $500,000 seeking safeguard measures that would most likely not be implemented, they would be better off exploring other solutions.
That brings me to ask wether you have enough power. Should the Canadian International Trade Tribunal have greater power of enforcement? Should companies that spend exorbitant amounts of money seeking safeguard measures be compensated if they win their case?
It seems to me that there is really a problem. I would like to hear your views on the subject.