Industry committee  Yes, I think so, and I also think the government has long supported the aerospace industry halfheartedly. It doesn't do enough. Aerospace in fact requires long-term investment, venture capital. However, at the risk of offending some with my comments, I would say that, since members of Parliament are elected for four-year terms, they don't necessarily see any short-term results and therefore are likely less interested in investing in this industry, which, however, does so much for Canada.

Industry committee  I haven't done any calculations, but what Canada does should be proportionate to what other countries have done for their industries. I'll let others do the math. I think we need a policy because…

Industry committee  Thank you, first of all, to all the committee members for giving us the opportunity to present our views. We're the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. We're the leading union in the aerospace sector and air transportation industry. We represent over 55,000 members across Canada, 22, 000 of whom work in the aviation and aerospace or air transportation sectors.

International Trade committee  If you look—

International Trade committee  I'll try to make it as quick as possible. The fact that we don't have an aerospace policy here, a national policy, and that it's not structured—and we're on an ad hoc basis when there's an emergency and there's money thrown at a certain company because there's a problem with that company or something like that—is hurting our industry incredibly.

International Trade committee  In terms of workers' rights, as I explained in my opening remarks, the investor-state dispute settlement mechanism that existed under NAFTA has been withdrawn. I don't see any reason to make the same mistakes by including a system that would give all kinds of rights to foreign investors when workers don't have any rights.

International Trade committee  That's it exactly, absolutely.

International Trade committee  Making us more competitive versus the suppliers—

International Trade committee  Making us more competitive.

International Trade committee  We can set certain limits. We're not talking about “buy 100% Canadian” here. We're talking about other countries with trade agreements that have put provisions where, when there are government contracts, procurement issues—for example, the fighter jets we're going to be buying here in Canada—that we have a certain obligation for some Canadian content.

International Trade committee  We have opportunities through SMEs, small and medium-sized businesses. It's not a huge trading partner necessarily, but there are opportunities on the military side. There are opportunities with parts from aircraft and things like that. It is one of the biggest countries that produces over there, so we have multiple opportunities with them.

International Trade committee  Absolutely.

International Trade committee  I will just put in the IM's recommendations: Develop an industrial policy that includes a national aerospace policy to support the industry nationally; support the industry in remaining globally competitive in accessing global markets; ensure under Bill C-18 that there are Canadian content requirements in public contracts; review and revise problematic CETA chapters, such as labour rights, public procurement, trade regulations and quotas.

International Trade committee  Thank you for the invitation and the opportunity to share the position of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers on this important matter. The IAM is the leading union in the aerospace sector and air transportation industry. We represent over 55,000 members across Canada of whom 22,000 work in the aviation, aerospace and air transportation sector.

Transport committee  The issue that I have there is that we're talking about specializing on one single aircraft.