Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Senator, ambassador and other witnesses, welcome and thank you for being here.
We've been unable to avoid this issue since debate on the free trade agreement between Canada and Colombia started. We've heard about it all the more since the United States refused the ratify the agreement with Colombia on human rights grounds. The debate is underway, and we are in the middle of it.
We have to ask ourselves certain basic questions. Should we maintain the trend toward doing business simply for the sake of doing business, without considering human rights, among other things? How far should we go?
My question is mainly for you, senator. People believe that a free trade agreement is a panacea for all problems related to human rights, security, the environment and social development of the countries in question. First, I would like to know what you think about the idea that we should do business and the rest will follow, that things will improve on their own. I'd like to have your opinion.