Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for Louis-Hébert for his kind words.
I think that we must be very careful in helping the poorest countries, because we tend to think in the short term and to pay more attention to trade than to the poorest in the world. I think it is obvious that if we increase our productivity, our trade, our ability to pay, we will be in better position to help the poorest countries.
In many ways, we must be very careful not to work only with the countries from which we stand to gain the most. We must also develop markets with the poorest countries, thus helping them ensure their own development.
I made several trips to developing countries with External Affairs officials. The ambassadors I met told us that one way to help developing countries was to trade with them.
Since Bill C-57 is aimed at opening up trade, I think that if we do it with dignity, we can increase trade with these developing countries, thus helping them become better traders. There is nothing better than practice to learn how to do business.
If we can show developing countries how to borrow, how to lend, how to do business, how to make goods, I think it would be one of the best ways to help them.
This does not mean that we should not help those in need, those who must be fed every day, those who need help to become better farmers, and so on.
In this regard, I think that opening up markets to the entire world will give developing countries better opportunities to trade and to learn from successful trading countries. I am convinced that this will help them a great deal in the future.