Muchas gracias, señores.
To our guests from Medellín, thank you for making your presentations today.
Just to explain, I am with the Conservative Party, which happens to be the government. I say that to give you some comfort, because there is at least one other party around the table that I know supports proceeding with Colombia, and that is the Liberal Party. I don't pretend to speak for them.
I say this so that you will have some confidence that we believe in this free trade deal. We believe that it should go forward and will go forward, and that it respects the integrity of workers and citizens in Colombia. We think it is in the best interests of both of our countries to proceed with this free trade agreement as quickly as possible. Today's testimony was probably the most compelling that we have heard. I say this because you live there, and we don't. All the people who have made representations to us mean well, but they don't all live there. You do.
The people around this table, who I believe want what is best for Colombia and Canada, live here. They don't live with you. I would say respectfully that I myself don't fully appreciate the benefits of proceeding. I'm more committed today as a result of your testimony than I have ever been before.
You spoke of the embargo put on Colombia from Ecuador and Venezuela, and you talked about how it would result in more unemployment and violence. I am compelled to proceed with this now.
Mr. Navarro, I believe you commented that the delays in bringing in free trade would cost jobs and cause violence. It seems that we are affecting the ability of workers and their families to provide for themselves. Could you tell us more about how the embargo and the free trade delays will contribute to violence?