Mr. Speaker, first I would like to make an observation. There is absolutely no question that the relationship between Taiwan and Canada has had an historical significance over the last three or four decades. What the Taiwanese have contributed to Canada is outstanding.
However, it is somewhat more than a diplomatic nicety that we have a relationship with the People's Republic of China. My first question to the member is, does the member not find it encouraging that as recently as last week the People's Republic of China granted the WHO the opportunity to go into Taiwan and observe with respect to the implications vis-à-vis SARS? On the basis of that, does the member not think that in view of the diplomatic relationship Canada has with the People's Republic of China his motion would be more credible, if we will, if it were to be worded in such a fashion that it would request the foreign affairs ministry to use all of its capabilities in diplomatic terms to enjoin the People's Republic of China to grant observer status to Taiwan?