Mr. Speaker, the conference on free trade this weekend has been an occasion for much celebration by those who supported it 10 years ago.
Former Prime Minister Mulroney seems particularly pleased, and why should he not be when he sees the way his former Liberal critics have unabashedly and slavishly adopted and accelerated his policies?
As for the NDP, we continue to believe that the free trade agreement has been bad for Canada. Too many good jobs have gone south. Social inequality has increased. Our social programs have deteriorated. We are a less sovereign nation, and we are still subject to U.S. bullying and U.S. orders as our economy becomes even more integrated with America. The fate of Bill C-55 is the most recent example.
The FTA may have sown greater exports and profits for some, but we have all reaped the whirlwind in terms of losing our soul, our chance to deliver justice, our chance to do a different thing in the northern half of North America.
Mr. Mulroney said last night that he wanted a big Canada, not a small Canada. Mr. Mulroney is measuring the wrong things. In the final analysis we will not be judged by our exports, our ability to compete or our ability to ape American attitudes and values. We will be judged on our willingness to co-operate and look after each other.