Mr. Speaker, as in everything else, unfortunately, the separatist movement has been overtaken by events. The GATT has been replaced by the WTO, and in article 12 of the WTO, on accession, there are no rights of succession and no principle of status quo ante .
The problem is that Quebec would be like any other country seeking membership, because there is no precedent. And Quebec would be put in the position of having to make huge concessions, first to become a member of the WTO and particularly to become a member of NAFTA. This is very clear.