Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Witnesses, thank you for coming here this afternoon.
Ms. Janega, my understanding is that your sector is composed mainly of small and medium enterprises, 95% in fact. In my view, 80% of jobs in Canada are created by SMEs.
Considering the potential opportunity you see once CETA is implemented, and of course the position of the Port of Halifax is an extra advantage to boost business in this region, my questions are as follows.
How well prepared are the smaller enterprises you represent to jump into the EU market of 500 million consumers? What are the challenges for smaller enterprises wading into such a marketplace? Is your organization doing anything to help prepare them to take full advantage of the opportunities CETA offers? Lastly, is there an EU expansion strategy specifically aimed at manufacturers and exporters in Nova Scotia?