The reality, too, of this situation is even if we have good souls working in the government departments, it's been 20 years, according to your testimony, since we had a first ministers' conference on human rights. Canada has a reputation in the world of being an all-star on human rights, and we haven't even done that in our country. I find that very disturbing to hear.
I have heard as well that even at the last one, we didn't have the federal minister present. I don't know whether that's accurate or not, but it really kind of leaves me at a loss for words, because we do have a very valued reputation on the world stage. Repeatedly people have come through my office from the Philippines, from Bolivia, from Colombia, from other places, workers who have had concerns about Canadian companies working in their countries, or other concerns.
Most of it comes back to one word. It's the activities of some countries killing with impunity, and the fact that Canada, because of its reputation, has a valued role to play at times like that. But if we lose our own reputation for human rights on the world stage, that will be a major international disaster, in my opinion. So I'm pleased to hear your comments about a structure that might guide us down a path to get us to restoring that.
I thank you, Mr. Chair. I must be out of time.