Merci.
I'm an economist. I'm not opposed to free trade on the basis that...and I think it's clear from our position. I heard Mr. Hoback, for example, saying that for some reason the opposition is opposing this agreement. It's clear that we're not in favour of agreements that detract from human rights.
I heard from basically all of you that we need to be in the country, as I think Mr. McDonald just mentioned, to actually make a change. I think at some point the burden of proof needs to be on those making that claim.
Honestly, I would like to actually see, besides the anecdotes we can see in any countries with human rights problems with which we have signed free trade agreements, what type of substantial changes happened in those countries. What type of changes happened in Colombia since we signed it, or since any major industrial country signed it? There might have been a slight change in terms of the standard of living; on the other side, in terms of governance, in terms of corruption, in terms of the respect of human rights, not much has changed since then.
I'd like for us to reflect on this. The federal government has, by all the treaties it has signed, committed to actually promote the rule of law, promote good governance in other countries. How can we actually use trade agreements for that purpose? It's clear that Honduras wants this agreement, which will be beneficial in economic terms. I don't disagree with you. But we're not trying to use the interest they have in this to actually intervene and help them, to give them an incentive to raise the level and the quality of their governance, and to ensure that these human rights will actually have larger value than what they have right now.
I would like you to comment on this. I understand the main argument you've brought, and I can see why you're thinking like this. On the other side, I haven't seen any evidence that any change has occurred in the past.
I would like each of you specifically, perhaps starting with Mr. Bannantine just because we actually discussed this, to say whether you would see that in future the government should take it as its own responsibility to include those elements—promotion of good governance, elimination of corruption, and respect for human rights—within the parameters of the deals we are negotiating with countries where there are such problems.