Thank you, Minister.
It's very important that you're here. Yes, a lot of trade agreements are being signed, but what we're seeing is that the exports are going down once we're signing these agreements. Yesterday the media reported that the National Bank of Canada is saying the Canada-E.U. trade deal is a disappointment, as deficit with Europe soars 46% over the last nine months, in comparison to the previous year.
Yes, we are signing these agreements but we're not seeing their benefits in the way that SMEs desperately need to be seeing them.
I have two questions for you. The first one is around the steel and aluminum.
We have had a lot of SMEs coming before the committee to present to us the desperate situation they are in, because the programs are not working. We heard from several of them that they just don't apply because it's too difficult to navigate the system of supports that are available.
I'm going to read you this quote. This is from Mr. Chris Wharin, from Bohne Spring Industries, who came here on October 23:
No small business owner in Canada should have to be subjected to this type of pressure. Business is stressful enough without having to deal with government intervention of this scope and magnitude. How much time and effort should I have to devote to fighting these tariffs and trying to pass the price increases along to increasingly hostile customers? Does our government care if small businesses such as ours survive? How can I grow and run my business effectively when I have to deal with the consequences of these tariffs and material increases? Shouldn't small businesses be focused on growth instead of fighting the government and fighting with customers on price increases?
I give you that quote for thought. The question I have for you is, what role are you playing in trying to help the SMEs impacted by the steel and aluminum tariffs?