Mr. Speaker, I have listened to my hon. colleague's remarks with interest, and I would like to give him a few figures concerning the matter of smaller countries and globalization.
In 1997, the unemployment rate in Canada stood at 10.3%. It was 3.6% in Austria, 8% in Denmark, 5.4% in Norway, 6.8% in the Netherlands, and 3.6% in Switzerland. So a country's size has nothing to do with the impact of globalization.
We have never suggested that globalization per se is bad. What we would like is some parliamentary control over globalization so that ordinary citizens can benefit from it, and not only those who can make big profits. Profit is important for companies, but the governments should also be able to redistribute wealth.
My colleague said he finds it strange that Quebec sovereignists should support free trade. He should not forget that it is Quebec that brought free trade to Canada, because it was in its own interest to do so, and Quebec's development depends on north-south trade.
Will the hon. member not admit that it is the way countries are governed and the development tools they give themselves, and not size, that determine how well they do internationally?