Mr. Speaker, the government's representation in the ICSID arbitration process is less expensive than other options in that the centre provides additional support for the arbitration process. It looks like it might be an attractive option for some Canadian and U.S. investors to bring claims against the U.S. or Canada respectively.
It raises a question, though, and it relates to NAFTA. It is the fact that we would be ratifying yet another international agreement and the question really is this. In ratifying the ICSID, does that mean, given the problems we have had with dispute settlement resolution of the softwood deal, for instance, that maybe it is an indication that the existing agreement under NAFTA in fact is not working?