Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Good afternoon, gentlemen.
To you both I would say that your extensive experience is impressive. I feel a little overwhelmed with everything you are telling us today. Mr. Harder, you said earlier that you had worked under five prime ministers of Canada. You have probably experienced and witnessed various trends, different influences and tendencies to which those eras have been subject. I am referring, among other things, to the overall consequences of globalization, both domestically and abroad. There were George W. Bush's two terms in office, the economic crisis that is currently being felt around the world, and we have also seen the election in the United States of a man who generates hope and who is being scrutinized by the international community.
Earlier in your speech, you referred—and you'll tell me if I'm misquoting you—to the failure of Canada's current foreign affairs policy. You might have indicated—and if you didn't, I will give you this opportunity to do so—that it is possible, at present, to implement various mechanisms to reinforce this foreign policy. We have discussed many subjects and facets: economy, finance, defence, Afghanistan, Iran, closer ties between Canada and the U.S., but there is still something, in my opinion, that we mustn't lose sight of either, meaning everything related to environment and trade. We talked a little bit about that.
I would like to hear your comments on this.