Mr. Speaker, I have many petitions to present, but all on the same theme. There are two different forms of the petition. They all have to do with the multilateral agreement on investment, the negotiations around which have broken down or have been suspended in Paris as a result of the efforts of many of the same people who have signed these petitions.
The petitioners call upon parliament to reject the current framework of MAI negotiations and instruct the government to seek an entirely different agreement by which the world might achieve a rules based global trading regime that protects workers, the environment and the ability of governments to act in the public interest.
Now that the current framework of the MAI has been rejected this petition from these particular petitioners becomes even more possible and hopeful.
The other petition I am presenting is also on the MAI. It calls on parliament to impose a moratorium on ratification of the MAI until full public hearings on the proposed treaty are held across the country so that all Canadians can have an opportunity to express their opinions about it.
One of the commitments made by ministers at the end of the negotiations in Paris was that there would be further public consultation. We also hope that this prayer on the part of the many hundreds of petitioners might also be met by the government in coming weeks and months.