I think you have to be very careful. As has been stated over and over in this committee, we don't know what the investment rules will be in the Pacific Alliance. We don't know the transparency or the legal requirements they will place on investors.
I think Canada and this committee need to do a study perhaps on the implications of Canada's investment rules and investment protections, starting in chapter 11. I know the negotiations of the TPP, which are related in some respects to this agreement, are taking place in secrecy. Canada has signed on to the agreement regardless of what is negotiated in secrecy, which I think is a very big mistake on Canada's part, and I think Canada should push for transparency and start by a study on the investment chapter of NAFTA.
The thing about the investment chapter is that it's being reinforced and broadened. In each trade agreement that goes forward, it becomes broader and broader. In the TPP, for example, leaks in the document have shown some countries or corporations are demanding that the companies can sue and claim expropriation if.... For example, Egypt raised its minimum wage, and some companies that were employing Egyptian labour complained to the tribunal that this was prejudicing their business. It was decreasing their profits. If a country can't raise its living standards by raising the minimum wage.... This is a really good example of how far the investment chapter can go and the negative aspects the investment chapter can have on a country.
I think that's where we need to start, deconstructing the investment chapter and seeing how we can protect investors without the detrimental impacts on human rights of citizens and on democracy. That's the key—democracy.