Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you for being here, Secretary Fuhr.
In my riding in the Bay of Quinte, we've been quite proud recently of examples of small SMEs that have been getting contracts that they thought they may have been unable to do. A small but innovative company by the name of Kool Koatings was able to secure business with General Dynamics, providing a niche application for its MIL-SPEC certified powder coating for one of General Dynamics product lines in a defence application. For a company of this size, it's quite inspirational to see. This company believes that this is an opportunity that could lead to additional contracts in the future with GD or others.
My questions are for you, Mr. Fuhr.
In your estimation, does this type of success story reflect the goals of the DIS? What steps is the government taking to ensure that more Canadian SMEs like Kool Koatings can connect with major defence contractors and participate in defence supply chains? I think it's a great example of how integrated we can be in providing our Canadian SMEs with a chance to access larger companies like General Dynamics.