Madam Chair, again I want to reiterate that with Canada as a trading nation, having 60% to 65% of our GDP coming from trade, I think that as legislators we have the responsibility to consider what is good for Canada. Sometimes we do politics and we work on support for bills and legislation and take actions based on political considerations, but this bill, when it becomes legislation, is not going to be in the interests of Canada.
Knowingly, we are shooting ourselves in the foot. Knowingly, we are creating problems for our future international trade agreements. Knowingly, as one witness put it, we are setting one farmer against another and, in rural Canada, one neighbour against the other. Also, 90% of the exporters of agricultural products agree with the exporters who have vehemently come out against this bill.
I think that as elected members of Parliament who are sitting here to uphold the best interests of all Canadians, we have to seriously look into the consequences of the decision we are making today in voting for this bill.
That's all I have to say at this stage, Madam Chair.