International Trade committee  Thanks for the question. I get the nature of committees here. Sometimes I don't get the questions because the answers might be a little too frank. We had a problem. The problem was that the American administration suggested a proposal for EV tax credits that was going to wipe out the Canadian auto sector.

International Trade committee  I think it will continue to grow, but I share the concern of my colleagues, both there in person and on the phone, with specific regard to section 45X. I think what we need to do as a country—and I think we are doing it actively on a per-file basis—is properly inventory the impact of this unprecedented American credit on battery production, and then, on the companies we are chasing, make sure that we have a competitive offer.

International Trade committee  The characterization that the IRA is going to negatively affect the industry is not one I agree with. There are threats, so to link a prediction on employment.... I'd rather link our prediction on employment to investments that have been announced by the five manufacturers in Canada in the last 18 months, and to the ones we think are going to land in the next six to 12 months.

International Trade committee  I think you know that I was the plaintiff on the emergency court order that cleared that blockage, and I did it on behalf of the companies I represent and some of my colleagues who are here before the committee. I said then and I'll repeat now that if we don't have our security strategy and security tactics in line with those of the United States and we allow dozens of people to cost us hundreds of millions of dollars a day in our most critical industries, then we undercut our ability to sell to the Americans.

International Trade committee  I feel like Simon Cowell now. Do I get the last vote? Do we go to Hollywood, Brian? I'm not a politician, so I get to say what I think. I don't have to worry about the balance. Where the answer comes is in the balance. We talk about austerity. We're going into this fall economic statement and we're all saying, boy, the finance minister better cut a whole bunch of programming.

International Trade committee  You started with the wrong guy. If we're going to do what we do now, which is sell most of our cars to the U.S., it's not as important. If we want to be in a scenario where we build where we sell, then yes, we need to have more competitive incentives here because they just aren't competitive.

International Trade committee  Thank you for your question, Mr. Savard‑Tremblay. I'll try my best to answer in the 45 seconds that are left.

International Trade committee  I'm not as concerned about how we interact with the Americans and whether there's going to be a scenario where we're looking at their wish to include more American content in American funding. I'm not extra concerned, because we've been dealing with that for the last 10 presidents.

International Trade committee  Thank you, Madam Chair. I thought I had the whole two hours to do this, so now I'll have to abridge it. I'm teasing, of course. It's always a pleasure to be invited to committee, and it's always a pleasure to speak with the committee and my colleagues about the impact of trade policies, especially U.S. trade policies, on the Canadian industry.

Finance committee  Thank you.

Finance committee  Yes. What will end up happening is that if you have fewer drivers, 20% fewer drivers, then the cost of those drivers.... As I said publicly, auto parts suppliers would have to outbid pork producers or other shippers at the time. That drove up the price for sure.

Finance committee  Yes. It's the same act that says you can't park in the middle of the 401.

Finance committee  Well, I wasn't opposed to them. We said that we need to be sensitive that there would be a cost. I also said that we were willing to take that as the cost of doing business, but we needed to be sensitive to it.

Finance committee  Correct. Yes.

Finance committee  It was cleared under orders from an injunction that we sought in superior court in Windsor.