Mr. Speaker, on August 29, 1988 a member of Parliament stood in this very House to give his maiden speech. Speaking on free trade he said: "This will have an impact on the very future of this country and it will help Canada achieve the place it deserves among nations". The hon. member continued by saying that free trade "is the affirmation of our country's global role". He said: "Nothing which makes this country-different from the United States is affected" by the agreement.
Who was the member? He was the newly elected member for Saint Jean, Quebec, the Hon. Lucien Bouchard. Canada was a country in 1988 by admission of the now premier of Quebec and it continues to be the best country in the world according to the United Nations. Vive le Canada.