International Trade committee  Sorry, I didn't even know David until I got here today. The last thing I want to do is offend him, to tell him that he is wrong.

International Trade committee  More importantly, I believe that our perspective on the TPP agreement needs to be put in context. Clearly, trade has benefited our country, and it is important for us, of course, to have a diversified market. We are not here to argue that somehow we should lock ourselves up and not trade with other countries.

International Trade committee  Thank you.

International Trade committee  Will that be made public?

International Trade committee  Thank you so much.

International Trade committee  By the way, we wrote your government a letter, as my colleague just reminded me, and to you specifically, then, as minister. But let's go back to the point you made about the auto industry. Clearly the Korea agreement has not enhanced our auto industry. They have huge access to our country with very little commitment to investment because, I think, it was flawed as it was put together without any commitment.

International Trade committee  Well listen, it's a two-way street. Let's be clear. Much of the discussion leading up to the TPP was not very public. I want to be very blunt about that. It was not very public.

International Trade committee  No, it does not chase investment away. The reality is that we want to protect the industry at the same time as the Americans are trying to protect their industry. We could have demanded the same thing. We didn't, and ultimately I think it's going to have a detrimental impact on the industry.

International Trade committee  We were not consulted. Again, we learned there was an agreement during the middle of the election, when the government announced that an agreement has been reached. We met with Minister Freeland shortly afterward—we met with her twice actually—to talk about the TPP agreement and try to find out more details from her what was in the agreement.

International Trade committee  Obviously, I concur with most of the points that Scott has made in this area. We highlighted them because we believe that in this agreement, this will of course allow companies bidding on contracts in Canada to bring in an entire workforce. In addition to that, we will have no ability, as a government, to even determine the credentials of those individuals coming into our country.

International Trade committee  Let me begin by expressing my sincere appreciation for your willingness, and that of Minister Freeland and the government, to sustain open and frank dialogue regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiated under the previous administration. It is a deeply flawed agreement, and our view is that the costs of the TPP outweigh, of course, the limited benefits that might arise from the deal.

Human Resources committee  Yes, I do.

Human Resources committee  I can't comment on what private members can table. Obviously, private members are going to continue to table whatever legislation they think is appropriate. However, I think the Canada Labour Code should be a consultative process, and as such, ensure that both employers and unions have an integral part to play in that process.

Human Resources committee  Yes.

Human Resources committee  The previous government very much touted their desire to cut red tape and not to impose a cost on Canadians. It was a mystery to me why they would be tabling legislation that would require more red tape and thousands of pieces of paper to be filed by unions in complying with the law.