Mr. Speaker, yesterday I had the pleasure to participate in round table discussions with a number of Canadian businesses, ranging from agricultural consulting to telecommunications, dedicated to making a difference in the developing world.
As Canada prepares for the new round of WTO negotiations we must remember that Canada has prospered greatly from a rules based trading system. However, we cannot fail to include developing countries in the economic and social benefits offered by international trade.
The Canadian private sector, in co-operation with private sector companies in the developing world, can play a vital role in the new millennium in alleviating poverty by inspiring hope, hope where people can dream of a future for themselves and their children because of jobs and new opportunities. These are the benefits of international trade.
We look to Seattle and the WTO as a mechanism to increase prosperity for all people of the world, not just a few.