Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Good morning, gentlemen. It's a pleasure to have you here. I noted your great qualities as diplomats attacking head on, of course, a problem about which we have all been recently made aware.
Indeed, for us, from the outside, this is a major concern. Let's say it immediately, we don't look at the free trade agreement with Peru as we look at the one with Colombia. There is indeed a major gap with regard to human rights.
As you know, the Bloc Québécois is of course in favour of protecting the respective sovereignty of countries since we're trying to acquire our own in Quebec. In that sense, I am still convinced that free trade agreements must ensure that both parties come out winners.
There is one factor among so many others that concerns the Bloc Québécois the most, and another party as well. It is the agreement on investment, which we call Chapter 11—in reference to the agreement with the United States. That agreement, at one point, gives businesses more power than is held by the populations of the countries concerned. Businesses can sue the government for a shortfall relative to current and even future profits—those that are anticipated.
In this context, and from the standpoint of the environment or working conditions, a business can be set up in your country and perhaps take advantage of environmental laws that are less strict and, perhaps as well, take advantage of the fact that wages are lower—even though there might be some improvement in that regard. As members of a sovereign country, should you wish to work to improve those rights and working conditions as well as the environment, you would then no longer be able to do so because the investment agreement gives foreign companies too much power.
Ultimately, my colleague, another party and myself are opposed to this agreement in order to to protect your sovereignty and your population so that, one day or another, we can arrive at a fair trade arrangement.
What is your perception of this investment agreement, with regard to your rights and your sovereignty as such?