International Trade committee  I would say that's correct. A number of companies show up at most of our meetings, and then there are companies that don't. We're still hoping for more participation.

International Trade committee  I see that. I'm involved with Copenhagen Capacity and GTMA. It's about attracting jobs and head offices to their particular cities. I see this as very much the case, that Canadian companies that are members in our EUCOCIT chambers are definitely looking to increase their size of business and thereby gain new jobs and grow the economy that way.

International Trade committee  I have to admit I am not familiar with the study. You're saying there is a spin-off of about $1,000 per individual.

International Trade committee  That's per family, okay.

International Trade committee  I don't think the market will be restricted to Toronto. I believe the opening of markets with the free trade, so to speak, CETA, will give an overall spread over the country—perhaps not evenly, but definitely opportunities will be there for all Canadian companies and all EU companies with an interest to cooperate and exchange trade.

International Trade committee  There are already a lot of companies doing trade with the EU. I think with CETA,they will open up new opportunities for other companies to participate. I think the problem that is coming out.... Maybe I can address your question a different way by making a statement. I find personally that Canadian business people are lax to get involved with a new agreement and pay attention to a new agreement until the deal is done.

International Trade committee  On a personal note, I believe that could be the case. We have a lot of good product in Canada in beef and pork that could be competitive in Europe.

International Trade committee  I don't have a correct answer for that one. I could say that from Denmark to the U.K. there are a lot of pork products being sent, and also dairy products. With Denmark we will probably have a tough competition to beat them.

International Trade committee  We actually had one of these meetings where it was mozzarella. When is a mozzarella a mozzarella cheese--that kind of thing. It's the same with champagne. If it comes out of the Champagne area, it's champagne; if it comes out of anywhere else, it's sparkling wine.

International Trade committee  I agree. In May 2010 we had “The Canada-EU Free Trade Agreement: What's In A Name?” We had Steve Verheul there. We had Kathryn McKinley, who is the deputy director of technical trade policy of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada; Jason from CERT; Karen Young, the leader of regulatory and scientific affairs with Nestlé Canada; C.J.

International Trade committee  It preceded CETA. It was formed in 1995.

International Trade committee  We have not at EUCOCIT.

International Trade committee  The purpose was really to give the European Community a stronger focal point so it would be recognized as one rather than as 27 different Chambers of Commerce and business associations that people would have to deal with, and we would be the voice in Toronto for the European side.

International Trade committee  We measure them simply by the quality of our meetings and the recognition factor that we have from all kinds of bodies, like the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance and the government itself.

International Trade committee  I would say on a personal note that I believe the euro will continue, but should it not, we would still say that Canada and the EU--and Denmark has the Danish krone and the U.K. has the pound--are still quality markets, and there would be great opportunity to expand our business relationship with Canadian interests and U.S. interests.