Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
To begin with, I am truly sorry that the witnesses had a mistaken perception of our position regarding free trade. I was compelled to correct the situation this week, with the European ambassador. I told him that we were in favour of the principle, but that we had different solutions to the same problems.
We are hoping that we will be able to move forward alongside all of our House of Commons colleagues and offer solutions or proposals that will provide us with the best possible agreement, be it with Europe or with other countries. We are working in the same direction. That being said, I now address myself to Mr. Shah.
I was very interested by your statement regarding small businesses. You said that the Trade commissioner service should focus more on small and medium-size business, perhaps even devote itself exclusively to it. I took you at your word. I hope that I have not misinterpreted your thinking.
Mr. Laurin, I do not know if you have received any complaints of this nature. Small and medium-size business managers have on occasion complained of being unfairly treated during trade missions compared with larger companies.
One must not hide from the truth. Even if Canada is a rich country, our resources are relatively limited. We cannot throw money out the window just like that.
Mr. Laurin and Mr. Shah, do you believe that the Trade commissioner service should concentrate more on small and medium-size business, even if it means excluding certain categories of companies? I am thinking of companies that have more than enough means to represent themselves throughout the world and who, more often than not, have well established activities worldwide.