Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Welcome to all our guests.
Mr. Chairman, I'm going to take maybe two minutes for my opening remarks, and Mr. Brison will take the rest.
I listened very carefully to both statements. I want to say that about a month and a half ago, we were able to meet with a minister from Colombia. I think her name was Minister Mejia. She was very thorough in giving us actual data on some of the progress that's been made, which you touched upon today. I thank you for confirming this.
I really have one question for both Mr. Plunkett and Ms. Bugailiskis.
You said, sir, to conclude your statement, that “Canadian businesses are not alone in recognizing the opportunities in Colombia.”
In your statement as well, ma'am, you said, “to partner with likeminded countries”.
Well, “to partner with likeminded countries”: should we be delaying ratification of this agreement, would we be losing the opportunity, or that edge, to partner with like-minded countries to progress positively forward?
And to you, Mr. Plunkett, should we be delaying the ratification of this agreement, would Canada be losing some kind of edge, some kind of opportunity?
I'm trying to tie it together in a way similar to the way we lost the competitive edge, if I can use those words, when it came to CAFTA. We didn't ratify it; the United States ratified it by, I think, one vote; now we are, I think, trying to get back to the table. But we lost that competitiveness, if you will...or that, “Hey, we've got the Americans onside now, let's keep talking with the Canadians, and we'll see.”
We know that the Colombians are moving positively forward with other trade agreements. Should they be ratifying with Europe and other countries, once those agreements are ratified, how will our position be going to the table as a country?