Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister, for being here. I'm glad to know that you're in touch with the Indian trade minister on the various things that need to be done for Canada and India trade and investments. Canadians are investing quite a bit in India and we need proper investment protection agreements and trade agreements.
Coming back to the main question here with respect to the U.S. relations, especially on the EV tax credit, let's take a step back. The EV tax credit is a small part of a bigger picture. We know the Canadian dollar transportation industry is moving from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles and this is a big change that is happening. China has taken the lead, some parts of Europe have also taken the lead, and the U.S. is catching up but we are just stepping in.
We have some strengths. In Canada and the U.S. we have a Canada-U.S. joint action plan on critical minerals collaboration. To increase the potential that is available within Canada, I know the last budget set up a battery minerals centre of excellence and we are also establishing a research centre to develop the technologies related to this.
I have long called for a task force to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for the developments of mines, mineral processing technologies, battery manufacturing and ultimately electrical vehicle manufacturing.
You and your colleagues in cabinet and other levels of the government have taken a team Canada approach in dealing with the U.S. That is good but we also need a team Canada approach to develop our strengths within Canada from the development of mines, to the processing of minerals, to the manufacturing of batteries. I want to know what is it that you know that is happening on this front at the cabinet level and any interactions you may have with various provinces and territories.