I believe that, inherently, outsourcing, especially controlled outsourcing, could actually be beneficial for businesses to some extent. Why? Since the 1980s, we've been hearing about the globalization of the economy and competition from all sides. When it comes to Canadian companies, our market is primarily the U.S., and so our products have to be competitive. Domestically, however, our cost structures are extremely high. If we could outsource certain steps while endeavouring to strengthen our competitiveness at other steps, those two things combined could give us a certain competitive advantage.
I've had the opportunity to work with a number of companies in Quebec, including Procycle. Controlled outsourcing has allowed them to sustain themselves, even in the U.S. market. Of course, a free trade agreement can't benefit all Canadian businesses in all sectors. I would say it's important to wait and to try to create an overall climate that benefits the Canadian economy.
As for CGI, I can understand their reservations; India's IT sector is very well-known for its ability to compete. It is, however, a very broad sector, so carving out a place in niche markets is an important first step.
Above all, we need to strengthen our ability to compete. In that sense, I don't see how we can isolate ourselves by closing our borders and still maintain our prosperity.