Mr. Chairman, I think the steel industry is an example of an early leader in the whole process of North American companies working together. Long before the SPP, the steel sector was ahead of the pack in figuring out how to make economic integration work for Canadians and work for Americans as well.
As you say, in the early days of Canada-U.S. free trade discussions, the big debate was over whether Canadians could handle competition from the United States. Today it's very clear that competition is global, and the best way for Canadians to compete and for Canadian communities to prosper is to work with our neighbours and figure out how to combine our forces, how to combine our strengths, and benefit communities on both sides of the border. I think the steel industry has gone a long way in showing how that can happen.
It's more difficult I think in other commodities, but I think the steel sector has shown what is possible, and I would commend them for their work.