Mr. Speaker, people around the world are recognizing the serious problems inherent in the current model for globalization. They are recognizing that the unfettered global marketplace is increasing social inequality and committing countries to a race to the bottom. People are demanding that governments live up to their responsibility to ensure that globalization serves democracy, equality and human need. Examples of the failure of the current model are everywhere. The Asia crisis has demonstrated that deregulated financial markets are a threat to sane and stable development.
Today at the MAI negotiations in Paris, the trade ministers of the 29 richest countries are discussing their publics' concern following an attempt to make the rights of working people and the environment subservient to investor rights.
Let the MAI die a well deserved death and let us seize the opportunity to explore ways of ensuring that globalizing markets serve the common good and not just the interests of the wealthy global elite. We call on this government to live up to its responsibility and engage the Canadian people in a debate about concrete ways to advance our values of social justice and equality in the—