Madam Speaker, on the first question, the problem that I see in foreign affairs, national defence or international trade policies is that everything is done in a vacuum. I have been saying for years now that the taxpayers are the ones who are paying for the MPs' and the ministers' salaries and for the new policies adopted by the different governments. When will we finally hold extensive public consultations to ask people what kind of foreign affairs policy they want to see adopted?
If a commission mandated to do such a study were to come to Quebec, people would say that International Trade should be kept under the auspices of the Department of Foreign Affairs for the reasons I have stated. I am not just talking through my hat. The Bloc Québécois has always made a point of listening to the people of Quebec. We say this because we believe it is what all Quebeckers think. However, it is important to consult with them and to make sure that the whole process is not taking place in a vacuum amongst senior public servants and academics, with the public then presented with new policies on which it will not have a say.
With respect to the importance of international treaties, the one on international poverty for example, my colleague is absolutely right. We had a senior Minister of Foreign Affairs who had public servants working under him. Now he will simple announce in an international forum that he cannot say anything about complying with international standards in trade and that from now on his colleague from Willowdale will be responsible for that. This indeed creates a problem. This is one of the main reasons why the Bloc Québécois is opposed to the bill as presently worded.