I'll be 30 seconds, then. Thank you.
The three national Colombian confederations have opposed this trade deal. In 2009, they said:
From our perspective, fair trade should be defined as the development and progress of the socio-economic, cultural, and environmental rights of the Colombian society. Signing an FTA between Canada and Colombia would not guarantee these rights.
To the question as to whether this is ideological, let me point to an area where we probably do agree, and that is the proposed amendment. We welcome the initiative to amend the agreement in order to ensure that a human rights impact review is part of a trade deal.
Let me try to understand this. As I see it, the Colombian government will introduce an annual report to its Congress on the impact of the trade deal on human rights in Colombia. The Government of Canada will do the same.
And then what? Will the reports be exchanged between parliaments? Will they then be debated? In which committees? How does that whole process function?
What are we saying? That Colombians will debate the impact of the trade agreement on human rights in Canada?
We believe the principles of a legitimate human rights impact assessment must be that it is prior to implementation, independent, and its conclusions actionable. If we accept these principles of an effective and legitimate assessment, the conclusion must be that it is premature to proceed with the free trade agreement at this time.
Let me just say in conclusion that if indeed the Colombian government is serious about the efforts it says it is undertaking, then they should welcome a true, independent, prior human rights impact assessment. It doesn't that mean trade and investment stop.
The governments can continue to negotiate and implement tariff reductions to benefit products from both parties, something like a general preference system, which would allow for improvements for Canadian exporters and for Colombian consumers, whom you claim to want to assist. It would allow you to say to the Canadian public that you have done full due diligence--a win-win situation.
Thank you. My apologies.