Let me also welcome the senator and the ambassador.
I had other questions, but now I'm prompted to go with this first question, Senator, only because of your response. I'll quote here from The Washington Post, which observed that unionized workers make up 2% of the population in Colombia, but only .0027% of the 17,198 murders in Colombia were members of unions. While union members are explicitly targeted in some areas, this information would appear to suggest that union members are in fact less likely to be killed than members of the population at large.
We're dealing with facts, but before I give you the floor, sir, I just want to cover my questions; then the floor is yours.
You attended a roundtable discussion while you were here—on the 25th, I believe—on how to fight global poverty, and you said poverty will provoke violence. I think we all agree with that, and I think all of us as decent human beings want to move forward to address poverty.
But I am concerned that in many areas we as a country.... We've been briefed that Canada has assisted Colombia. For example, it contributed $32 million between 2006 and 2008 focusing on the rights of children, youth, and internationally displaced persons. Also, Canada has provided a total of $50 million since 2005 through its Global Peace and Security Fund to promote peace in Colombia and the region, to protect victims' rights through access to justice and reparation—and it goes on and on.
So I think we've been quite on top of the file. We don't just want to come in and make a deal on trade.
How do we fight poverty, sir, I want to ask you? You've had violence, I think it was mentioned, over five decades. How do you fight violence? You said, if I may quote you, “We must find other, more democratic, civil ways to deal with these issues.” Please give us some suggestions on what the other more democratic ways are.
I also believe, as was suggested by the critic, that the FTA will increase pressure on the government to make sure that it improves its laws. That's part of what I think we have done as a nation when we've signed agreements with other countries: we've shown them ways. I'll use China as an example, where we've made a quantum leap forward in terms of labour laws, unions, etc. Engaging can only benefit.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.