Thanks, Mr. Chairman.
As lawyers, when you don't have the facts, you argue the law, and when you don't have the law, you argue the facts. I think in trade if you don't have the numbers, you argue the policy. The numbers are a persistent problem, Mr. Minister. I'm a little concerned that I hear you writing off a $100-billion merchandise trade deficit, or a $67-billion trade deficit, which includes services, goods, and investment, as not much to worry about.
I want to turn to CETA. In its negotiations with India, the EU has announced that it is abandoning its demands for changes to intellectual property rights. The changes demanded by the EU could increase drug costs in Canada. Some estimates are as high as $3 billion a year, and some are lower. Your own department, I believe, has estimated costs of up to $2 billion a year, I believe. Will your government commit to holding firm on intellectual property rights as the Indian government has done and insist on a CETA deal that won't increase drug costs for seniors?