Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you, Minister, for appearing.
I will be splitting my time with Mr. Fast, if that's all right.
Minister, there's no question that this bill is about more jobs in all parts of Canada, international competitiveness, the Atlantic Gateway, the Pacific Gateway, and even in fact the effect for all parts of Canada. As a small business owner for 20 years, getting furniture from Montreal across to Alberta was extremely difficult and cumbersome. Indeed, I would like to compliment you and the government in bringing this forward, because since coming to this place in 2004, this has been the number one issue for stakeholders, including cattle producers, farmers, lumber companies in Quebec and British Columbia, manufacturers in Quebec and Ontario, and even ethanol and potash producers out of Saskatchewan, and importers and exporters from all parts of the country.
My question is very simple. Has there been any group of shippers that does not like the direction this legislation is taking us in?