Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Good morning. Welcome to the Committee.
Canada has concluded a free trade agreement with its most important trading partner, but is also seeking to diversify its trading partners, in keeping with its international trade policy. In that regard, Canada is seeking to conclude more and more bilateral agreements, either free trade agreements with other countries or other kinds of agreements. The government wants to ensure that these can be dealt with as quickly as possible. As part of these processes, is there any analysis or are any impact studies carried out to determine the potential effect on industry and the provinces?
You have been talking about possible consultations with the provinces. I may have misunderstood what you said, but I had the feeling, at times, that you were saying there was consultation, but at other times, I wasn't quite so sure—perhaps you were trying to say that there was consultation, but that it wasn't particularly helpful. Under these agreements, many partners—be they the provinces, Quebec or affected industries—are seeking to protect their interests. Are they adequately represented to be in a position to defend their interests or positions, before final decisions are made?