Very good. A minute.
Maybe we'll circle back, but if not I just wanted to make the general point that as far as regulatory aspects are concerned with respect to trade issues, that issue falls under the purview of the international trade committee and not this committee. However, recognizing that there are human rights issues at play, we can and should look at those.
Hearing the testimony today, I don't get the sense that any mining would be acceptable, which presents one perspective. In the summertime we—you were there too, Mr. Chair—visited Guatemala and Colombia as part of our work in the foreign affairs committee. We spoke to many people on the ground, individuals who favour a perspective that you put forward. But there are many at the same time who are quite open to mining, under certain conditions whereby companies engaging in that type of work provide for development, including schools, hospitals, and roads. We saw evidence of that. We saw evidence of companies acting appropriately.
I've probably taken 45 seconds now, but if we do circle back, I would like to ask a question on co-operative agriculture, since the view appears to be that you're opposed to mining entirely. There was a comment in your testimony indicating that you're open to co-operative agriculture. I know this federal government has contributed a great deal of financial resources in support of co-operative agriculture in Latin America.
I would love to hear your views on that. In Guatemala, I remember going and speaking to a number of farmers working on coffee plantations who are quite excited about the model of co-operative farming and its promise for Guatemala. The same is true in Colombia, from what we saw.
I'll leave it there. If we circle back, I'd love to hear your view. I think the testimony is skewed in one direction because, from from my experience, there are others who have put forward a different perspective, who are more open to mining, who are on the ground working for democracy and economic rights, generally speaking.
Thank you very much.