Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd like to thank all the witnesses for being here today.
I'd like to respond to Mr. Miller's earlier comment to the effect that the committee had not visited the port of Vancouver. I believe that most of us were very sorry to hear that the committee had eventually come to this disappointing decision, on grounds that the committee had visited the port of Vancouver in the past. I nevertheless believe that I and everyone else would have liked to visit that port.
My first questions will be for Mr. Gooch.
During our visits last week to various ports, I occasionally heard people comment or wonder whether it's appropriate to keep investing in certain ports, like those that are most congested, when other ports could serve the same markets.
Do you think it would be appropriate to withhold investment in congested ports and to shift traffic to underused ports instead?
I'm also wondering whether this could have an impact on us from the competitive standpoint, given that we would often be competing with some ports in the United States. You, no doubt, are more familiar with the market than I am, and might be able to answer this question.
Why are some ports congested while others have more capacity? Is this also related to market considerations?
Over to you.