Thank you, Mr. Garneau.
Again, I don't want to speak on behalf of the shipbuilding industry specifically. When you look at this trade agreement, it's one element. When you talk about our strategy with the shipbuilding industry, this trade agreement obviously will affect the Canadian shipbuilding industry, but we need to look at what other things we can do to make sure that our local shipbuilding industry will be competitive and will stay in business.
You mentioned the capital cost allowance, which is something that's positive. You mentioned financing mechanisms that are being provided, which is another positive. Is it enough? You seem to have indications from that specific industry that it's not enough. Maybe we should look at doing more. That's more of a question, but I'm not sure we need to do it within the free trade agreement. I think, as best as we can, we should try to do that outside the trade agreement.
I think there are a lot of things we can do to help manufacturers, whether they're in shipbuilding or in other sectors, to be more competitive, just by streamlining regulations, making sure they can reduce their cost structure and be more competitive in Canada and in international markets. Again, I can't speak on the specifics of the shipbuilding industry, but as much as we can do that outside the trade agreement specifically, the better it would be, because there is strong support overall for this trade agreement. But I wouldn't want to say just forget about shipbuilding. That's not what I'm saying. I think they're an important part of the Canadian manufacturing sector.
This has been ten years in negotiation. I think we should do our best to try to get it passed, but at the same time I think we need to address the specific concerns of the shipbuilding industry—if possible, outside the trade agreement. But this is something where I'm sure they can speak on that specifically.