Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, and thanks to the team for the work you do and the presentation.
I did notice that there was a focus on how this free trade agreement will strengthen peace-building and respect for human rights. I'm interested in strengthening environmental protection, so that's what my questions are about.
I know that in some countries with long-running internal conflicts--for example, I was in El Salvador very shortly after that internal civil war ended--in some of those cases, especially where there are human right abuses as well, there is environmental degradation that results. It's simply not a priority for people when their lives are at stake, and I think that's reasonable.
That is the situation in Colombia. Extractive industries and agriculture are the key trade contributions from Colombia, which we can expect to increase. Extractive industries like coal and mining have been known to result in toxic tailings and polluted waterways. Agriculture, particularly crops like bananas and sugar, and sometimes coffee, which are mentioned here, have also led to soil degradation, loss of habitat, and biodiversity reduction.
That's what my questions will focus on: the impact of the free trade negotiations on the health of the environment in Colombia. I have five questions.
One, where is Colombia currently in international rankings of environmental protection?
Two, what are the specific key environmental concerns in Colombia?
Three, what risk is there of exacerbating those key environmental health concerns in Colombia? Coal mining can lead to problems. Banana plantations can lead to the clearing of rain forests and impacts on climate and biodiversity. So what risk is there as the economy continues to grow and specifically as there is a stoking of that under a free trade agreement with Canada?
Four, in her presentation, Ms. Nelder-Corvari mentioned that Colombia's labour laws need to reflect internationally recognized core labour principles, but the comments regarding environmental laws were bit fuzzier. So is the side agreement going to require the environmental laws to reflect internationally recognized core environmental principles and effective enforcement of those?
Five, what might be a mechanism for monitoring, reporting, and enforcing environmental agreements and adherence to laws through this free trade agreement? Would there be a mechanism such as there is in NAFTA, I believe, for that kind of due diligence on environmental issues?
Thank you.