Madam Chair, I tabled this motion—and I refer to APEC because in 2005, I participated in the conference that took place in Chile, if memory serves me well—because, in my opinion, when these types of international meetings take place, and when they deal with issues that can enhance our role as parliamentarians, for example, issues dealing with gender analysis, there are no binding commitments. If you read my motion carefully, you will note that it expresses a wish. If I go by previous years—I do not have a considerable amount of experience here, as I was only elected in 2004—I believe it was the government's custom to invite or inform parliamentarians or opposition critics of the issues in question, and to ask them to participate, to be part of a delegation or a group of parliamentarians, and attend these international meetings. I think that this is a matter of ethics and of respect for the role of members of Parliament.
On May 1st, 2008. See this statement in context.