Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister, for being with us today.
I'm sorry I'm not there in person, but I can assure you it's a beautiful day in the Okanagan.
I just want to start with a question not directly related to CUSMA—it is related, and I'll get right to that—but it relates to our study we've just completed on the negotiations that are under way now between Canada and Ecuador for a free trade agreement.
As you know, Ecuador, in 2018, basically tore up its investment protection agreement with Canada and other countries because of the investor-state dispute mechanisms that are contained in them. After that, their courts found that it was unconstitutional to have investor-state dispute mechanisms in free trade agreements with Ecuador.
Finally, last month they had a referendum that put that to bed once and for all. The people of Ecuador resoundingly rejected investor-state dispute mechanisms once again.
I'm just wanting to get your assurance that Canada will not be pursuing an investor-state dispute mechanism in that free trade agreement with Ecuador.