My questions will be along the same lines as Ms. Normandin's, and they were very wise questions. I'm a bit sad because this is her first time in committee and here I am asking the same questions she did.
I want to thank the witness for her time with us today. I think she's doing an important thing as we start this new phase of our committee work. She is calming us down and being rational and evidence-based.
I want to follow up a bit on that. I'll speak very personally. When I began my time as a member of Parliament, I had a very strong and open understanding of China. I wanted to have stronger relations. I had two trips to China that were eye-opening. They were my first two trips.
Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor were then arbitrarily detained for over a thousand days. That is still with me as an individual. It's still collectively with the people of Canada. I think we are still hurting from that arbitrary detention.
We're now moving into a new phase, looking for an opening to see if we should, or could, open a different door with China. The “Should we?” question has to do with better, peaceful relationships in our world and that kind of stuff. Is it in Canada's interests? Is it in the world's interests? Is it in Canadians' interests?
If we wanted to that, what is your recommendation on how we do it? Sometimes, I just don't know. We're passionate people and we've been hurt. Now we're trying to look for a possible new way.
Do you have any thoughts on that?