And friend, notwithstanding, as he reminds me.
I was saying this morning that there was an urgent need, with respect to Canada's role internationally, its role in the defence of rights and freedoms, not only to have consistent discourse, but not to leave room for any interpretation that would tend, in the view of humanity and of other countries, to diminish the importance Canada accords to human rights.
When one looks at the amendment presented by the Liberal government to this opposition motion, one might well ask some serious questions. As my colleague has just mentioned, this is a way to play down the seriousness of a completely reprehensible act and almost to invite a certain tolerance of this type of event.
If we want human rights to be respected internationally, we must send a clear message, because any departure from this line of conduct will certainly have repercussions at home. As I have said, if Canada shows a form of tolerance for what should be condemned, sooner or later we will find ourselves in a similar
situation. The danger is there. If we are less vigilant at home, it is our fellow citizens who will suffer.
I am going to put my question to my colleague, because I know that many people would like to hear him again. It concerns human rights and international trade. I ask the question very seriously. I would like my colleague to tell us what he himself thinks of this: To what extent can a government make compromises, dishonest compromises, in order to establish or maintain trade relations with a country to the detriment of human rights?