Thank you for the opportunity this morning to participate in this interesting discussion, Mr. Chair.
I come from British Columbia. As you know, Mr. Chair, one of our biggest challenges in western Canada is the lack of human resources. I know the population of our country is aging, so I believe a unilateral or integrated domestic approach in getting our own house in order first is very important. Our government has tried different initiatives, with $70 million over two years to help the older workers and the trades program. I also mentioned debt repayment and trying to get our house in order. Those are all important initiatives.
From where we are with the lack of discussions at the WTO, as Mr. Menzies brought up, the reality comes with regard to NAFTA. We had some of the trade officials here on Tuesday. We talked about the fact that 97% of the trade to date with NAFTA has been dispute-free with regard to more or less positive negotiations, as Jayson mentioned.
There has been a net increase in workers. My honourable colleague beside me mentions the 1989 statistic pretty well every meeting, and you validated that with the comment about how much better off people are with the 250,000-plus net new jobs. But that reminds me of what my stats professor always said. Statistics are interesting in what they reveal but vital in what they conceal. You have to make sure that both sides of the perspective are presented.
In terms of where we're going with NAFTA, I just throw this question out. It partners in with some of the researchers' questions about our competitiveness and pursuing closer integration within North America.
I'd just ask our witnesses here today if, on the basis of productivity and innovation and competitiveness, they think North America is really where our capacity for competitiveness lies. Is it our biggest opportunity?