Thank you very much. I wasn't aware of that nuance, Chair. Thank you for that.
Yes, I have a motion that I gave notice of on Friday, and I have talked to some members of the committee regarding it.
It has to do with the ongoing discussions and negotiations between Canada and the U.K. for a trade agreement, which is moving apace, apparently, and the situation with Ireland and the Good Friday Agreement. I will read the motion for the benefit of those who are watching.
The motion is:
That the committee recognize:
(1) the longstanding cultural, familial, political and economic connections between Canada and the people of both the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom;
(2) the important role played by Canada in negotiating the Good Friday Agreement and in ensuring the commitments laid out in the treaty were implemented;
(3) that the decision by the United Kingdom to leave the European Union could affect the Good Friday Agreement and the provisions in it regarding the border between the Republic of Ireland and the U.K., and;
That the committee calls on the government to ensure that any post-Brexit trade deal between Canada and the United Kingdom be consistent with the principles of the Good Friday Agreement, and;
That the committee report this motion to the House and, pursuant to Standing Order 109, request that the government table a comprehensive response to the report.
I won't say a lot about it, except to reiterate that we understand there may be some agreement taking place now, the details of which are not fully known, but the important point to make is that some concern was expressed very strongly recently that the disruption of that agreement may be possible. We wouldn't want Canada to play any role in exacerbating that or interfering with this agreement, which is extremely important to the future of the peace process in Ireland.
It's a statement of principle, not detail, other than to say that Canada should not do any harm in the circumstances and do everything possible to ensure the upholding of that accord.
I did it simply in that way. It is a foreign affairs matter in a general way and a principle, although it obviously reflects on a trade situation, but I think it's a matter of principle that our committee hopefully will be able to have a consensus and determination on.