Thank you very much, Madam Chair, and to all of our witnesses.
I'm going to address this to Mr. Volpe.
Sir, I listened very keenly to your opening remarks. They were very well done. You had a lot of quotes and a lot of dates.
In my riding down by Essex—of course, I continue to say it—we're so entrenched in the automotive industry. It is very close to our border, the busiest international border in North America. I was listening, again with keen interest.
One quick date that I would bring to your attention, sir, was back in April of 2019. That was a date that the United States lawmakers received an economic impact study to help them make decisions with their new NAFTA trade agreement. That's one study that at least this side of the table has not seen as yet. We're very sure it's coming, but we haven't seen it as yet. I just want to bring that one date to your attention as well as a couple of quick quotes. I got this from the CBSA website.
The CBSA website currently states, “The CBSA, at this time, will not be seeking additional resources to implement and administer the CUSMA.”
It goes on to read as follows:
The CBSA will have to update policy and standard operating procedures, as well as identify new system and operational requirements. Should the implementation of new CUSMA benefits to the trade community add pressure on CBSA operations, resources needs will be reassessed to inform future recommendations to the Minister, as appropriate.
It sounds to me as though it's a little bit after the fact.
I acknowledge your enthusiastic support for the new NAFTA, sir. There certainly does appear to be good news for the auto sector, and that, of course, is good news for workers and businesses in my riding of Essex.
The focus of my questioning has not been on whether to ratify, but rather on implementation, the concern being that there is a very short 90-day window between ratification and implementation, which will be handled by the CBSA. The committee was advised that one of the most complicated elements of this agreement are the rules of origin, particularly in the auto sector. There are much more stringent rules in terms of content, as well as the labour value content threshold, which companies will now have to track throughout their supply chain.
In your opinion, sir, does the CBSA have the tools and the training to make sure they're ready to go on their front, and, further, that our Canadian businesses and manufacturers, the ones who literally feed our families, aren't interrupted along the way? I suppose In your opinion, have those tough questions been asked of our businesses and the government?