Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you once again. As I stated earlier, I had the privilege of meeting with your entire delegation for what was too short a time this morning. It was a most fascinating discussion, and I'm looking forward to joining you for a short time this evening at your dinner. I'm tied up for a lot of the evening, but I would like to join you again for perhaps a sip of aquavit afterwards, if it's available.
I want to clarify what may have been left as a misconception. The Canadian government has been in constant discussion with our shipbuilding industry to make sure that their concerns are heard and looked after. I think that's nothing different from what you, as members of your parliaments, would do.
We don't want to leave you with any misconception that we're not representing our industries here in Canada, but with the overriding principle that a free trade agreement with EFTA would be beneficial for your countries and for ours. That's the most important thing. It would be, as I mentioned this morning, our first transatlantic free trade agreement. I think it would be momentous. I think it's incumbent on all of us here to do whatever we can to push it forward.
I want to follow up on a discussion we had this morning. It fascinated me, and I would like to elaborate on it. The thought processes of you folks on the benefits of free trade seem so similar to ours. In fact, I think we couldn't find much that we disagreed on as to the benefits of free trade: how it can help your economies, how it will help our economies.
Yet I look at the parties you represent—social democrats, radical democrats, vocational unions—and find it fascinating. We have a New Democratic Party in this country that thinks free trade is a bad thing. I guess they want to live in a bubble; I'm not sure. I don't understand this way of thinking; it's far beyond me.
I would like you to elaborate on how you come to this conclusion. I absolutely agree with it, but please explain it to me. I'm having a struggle with it here in Canada.