If I might respond, I would say that the entrepreneurs represented here are SME owners. They need to sell their products abroad. Their situation is similar to that of several large businesses that, all told, are telling us that they produce for the world market and not just for the Canadian market and that they must have free trade agreements that remove trade barriers and obstacles. It is of course essential that Canada’s strategic interests be defended in the context of these agreements. Historically, however, I would say that our free trade agreements have served the interests of business and of Canadian workers well.
On October 20th, 2011. See this statement in context.