Thank you Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister.
I know you have a robust plan. I thank your team for its leadership and your leadership. In the approach you've taken, you've always kept the door open. You've looked to find that common ground to continue to talk.
On this NAFTA journey, I've heard from so many companies in my riding of Mississauga East—Cooksville that do a great deal of trade with the United States. Since the beginning they've always said they've been fully engaged and they understand all the nuances, but here's what's really telling. One of my neighbours, whom I'll call Fred today—and I won't say his political stripe—has come to me numerous times. He came to me on the weekend and said he liked seeing the minister with Premier-elect Ford talking about NAFTA in that Team Canada approach. However, one of the things Fred said that he would like to know is what's holding this back. What are the barriers?
I know the U.S. administration has talked about this five-year sunset clause, and we've said that's unacceptable, it's a non-starter. Can you explain to Fred, in layman's terms, what that all means to us, and why that would not be acceptable to Canada?