Mr. Peeling, the House of Commons is also currently studying another bill concerning a draft free trade agreement with Colombia. The agreement includes measures to protect Canadian investors in Colombia. Many other free trade agreements that Canada has signed with other countries—often countries which are lagging behind in terms of social, environmental, and human rights legislation, and so forth—include similar measures.
Do you not think that Bill C-300 could help limit abuse of Canadian investor protection measures?
Under the proposed terms of the free trade agreement, if a Canadian company invests in a country which then introduces legislation, such as environmental or worker protection legislation, etc., and the company's profits fall as a result, it can sue that country's government.
Do you think that Bill C-300 will help curtail abuse by Canadian companies abroad?