Good morning, gentlemen, and thank you for being here.
We have been talking all this week about the fact that we're in an emergency situation right now.
Barry, it's wonderful to have you here. I often speak of Atlas Tube here at the committee and the importance of those jobs in a very small rural community in our riding—good-paying jobs that are sustaining that entire community. I appreciate you being here to share your thoughts with the committee.
We've learned a couple of things today. Out of the government's money that's been put toward improving, preventing and circumventing, only 10 people have been added at CBSA. We heard today that of the people applying for the duty drawback and other programs, only 36 companies have been approved, and we have yet to hear from one that's received the money.
We're in this very long, slow process that is killing business across our country and costing us jobs. We're trying to bring that here to the government so that it understands the urgency we're facing.
One of the things I want to touch on.... Barry, you mentioned the full utilization of domestic steel and what that looks like. Both of you commented on the LNG. It's just unfathomable that we are now giving a free pass to a company and a product that we know is being dumped into our country and costing us jobs every single day. It's just beyond comprehension.
I wonder if you could speak a little further about other ways we can improve our domestic consumption, perhaps through government procurement or federally funded infrastructure projects.
Barry, I'll pass it to you for your thoughts on how we can do that.