Industry committee  Like you, I am convinced that the SMEs are very important. This issue concerns direct and indirect taxes.

Industry committee  That's a matter for the Department of Finance.

Industry committee  Mr. Chair, I'd be very happy to do that. The Emerson report was tasked by the Government of Canada on February 27, 2012. I think the context for this work is very much the issue of competitiveness of the aerospace sector. Of course, the aerospace sector is exceedingly important

Industry committee  I think Canada, as many of you know, has a very strong aerospace sector, and has traditionally done well in that sector in terms of participating in the North American market and the European market. As we look forward, the real challenge, as in many sectors, is the emergence o

Industry committee  Maybe what I will say is that the department actually has three strategic objectives, and that's typically always shown in our documentation. Those three objectives are probably worthwhile reviewing and they touch on the two issues you've raised. The first objective is to ensure

Industry committee  What I can say is that with respect to, I think, this particular expenditure, it is very much dealing with the fact that they have legacy systems in place, as many departments do, and they are moving to a modern IT system in the CIPO area. This is a priority for the organization,

Industry committee  Yes, there was an amount, and we are still discussing those funds with the former department. I would say, as Iain was stressing, that part of the idea here and part of the logic of the move, if you like, was to really try to take advantage of the existing resources that Industr

Industry committee  Mr. Chair, once again, that is a matter for the Department of Finance.

Industry committee  Taxes and credit cards are often the responsibility of the Department of Finance and Minister Flaherty. I am not aware of the matter, but we can nevertheless request—

Industry committee  Again, we'll have to touch base with the Department of Finance to determine what can be done there. Marie-Josée, perhaps you could just speak more generally about the role we have with respect to small business.

Industry committee  I'd be happy to do that.

Industry committee  Actually, it's very specific to the oil sands.

Industry committee  Then for the other sectors, the rule we have is that we monitor carefully any other state-owned enterprise acquisition in the natural resources sector, but indeed any sector.

Industry committee  Maybe it's helpful for the committee to be aware that the two tests are really related to the commercial orientation of the state-owned enterprise, as well as demonstrating what kind of relationship it has with the home country.

Industry committee  We'll have to look into that and come back to you. I'm not aware of these specifics. We'll provide that to you.