Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Secretary of State, I had a conversation recently with your colleague Carlos Leitão about the Defence Investment Agency. We are trying to see how people in the mining and aluminum sectors can seize opportunities. We have been told that this agency will be created to provide a framework for the supply chain and perhaps develop what goes along with it, a value chain.
You have to understand that there are complex realities right now. In your document, I saw the desire to shift on certain aluminum products that could be used for government contracts.
I am from Saguenay—Lac‑Saint‑Jean, the largest aluminum-producing region in Canada. It's important to understand the dynamics of aluminum. The government often doesn't make the distinction between raw aluminum production, the ingot that comes out of it, and processing, unfortunately. In other words, some processing is needed before a raw aluminum ingot can be used.
Currently, in Quebec, there is no support for aluminum processors. Given the tariffs that are in effect, they are disappearing. In order to use aluminum right now, it has to be shipped to the United States to be milled. Once that is done, the sheets that are needed for military applications can then be used and included in the value chain.
I think that is a challenge. You must be aware that, in Quebec and in the rest of Canada, we don't currently have the industrial capacity needed to meet the needs you seem to be suggesting.
So I'm confused about the role the agency will play, because when I look at it overall, it seems like wishful thinking.
How are we going to make those objectives a reality?
That's a heck of a challenge. You have targeted specific sectors of activity, but are you aware of the challenges related to those sectors?