Mr. Speaker, I find it interesting that we are debating a bill concerning Costa Rica. It reminds me of an example given us by Mr. Parizeau, an excellent teacher, on the positive aspect of free trade. He said the fact that small countries such as Costa Rica could win issues against very large countries, as they had in the past, had to be played up.
The member for Joliette has shown us fairly clearly that there is another side to the whole issue of globalization. If things are not done sufficiently openly, we could easily end up with agreements such as the MAI, the multilateral agreement on investment. Had this agreement been approved, governments would have been made dependent on multinationals, dependent in terms of capital. The remarks we heard this morning are relevant.
I would like this to be a lesson to us. Other agreements are currently being negotiated. The free trade area of the Americas is under negotiation. When I was taking part in the demonstrations in Quebec City in support of those who want to give globalization a human face, the question heard everywhere was “Will you as parliamentarians have the tools to ensure that what gets signed in the end is acceptable?”
I have a question for the member for Joliette. Should we not draw on the lesson of the negotiations with Costa Rica to see what will be done differently and which of our allies in society can help us attain satisfactory results in future negotiations, positive results and free trade agreements that promote equality among peoples and a better distribution of wealth, and not the reverse.