International Trade committee  Maybe I could start. Furniture grew and has been very successful because it allowed furniture manufacturers to specialize. It allowed them to focus on better design, better engineering, better sales, better distribution systems, because they were operating in a larger market. T

International Trade committee  I think, Monsieur Cardin, you've pointed out the advantages of looking beyond high-level trade negotiations to find out how to support the actual activities of businesses in international markets. You are right to underscore the importance of EDC, CCC, and CIDA in this regard.

International Trade committee  I agree with everything Mike has said, and the key message of that book is that we have to get our own house in order in North America. It's stunning how similar the issues are, looking at competitive issues not just within North America but within any developed economy. These ar

International Trade committee  It's a skill. I want to agree with Mr. Tomlin. If the U.S. stumbles, the world stumbles, and it is a concern right now. I think the U.S. deficit, the U.S. debt, the financing of that debt, has to cause us all concern. Looking into next year and putting on an economist's hat, I t

International Trade committee  I'm a little worried that the problems of the global marketplace are sometimes so daunting. We all know what the issues are, we do analysis really well, and then when it comes around to doing anything, we all throw up our hands and say we can't do anything. I think we have to foc

International Trade committee  As you would know then, Mr. Chair, it's very difficult to drive a truck across this country, because you face different transportation regulations in every province. As a result of that, a great deal of our trucking goes through the United States. So yes, solving the interprovinc

International Trade committee  Let me say I'm in agreement with much of what has already been said. Of course, real incomes have fallen, especially during the 1990s. For many families, real incomes are lower now than they were then. Certainly real incomes now are higher than they were back in 1990, but I'm not

International Trade committee  I also come from a small town in which furniture industries used to be a very important part of the economy. In 1990 most of those companies closed down. Much of it was because those companies just couldn't compete against the low-cost goods coming in, particularly from the Unite

International Trade committee  I think we'll all make a response. I would say that the WTO was not just a failure of the U.S. and a failure of the WTO to come to an agreement among all of its member countries. I think it was a good example of the failure of Canadian leadership in those negotiations. We reall

International Trade committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, and thank you, members of the committee, for inviting us here today. I think we all find that this particular issue not only is important but will be of growing importance, and that our ability to craft an international business policy is really g

International Trade committee  I'm Jay Myers, senior vice-president and chief economist with Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters.

Finance committee  Yes, that was my quote, actually.

Finance committee  If he were here, I'd say it.

Finance committee  No, I did not say that.

Finance committee  I think it was important that the budget made clear that the business tax reductions, especially, were going to be put in place. Companies make investment decisions now for investments that will be put in place five, eight, ten years down the road. So that certainly is especially