Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that it was a Conservative government that came to understand the importance and value of free trade.
However, let me say very clearly it is important that as the United States is our largest trading partner, we need to be working together to make sure that we are creating jobs for Canadians and that we are doing it in the North American context. If we look at the auto industry, it is not a single industry for the United States or for us; it is an industry that is very much integrated.
It is up to us to be that strong voice. That is the issue. We cannot lie back and wait for someone else to improve these relationships. It is imperative that all of us as parliamentarians do that. I am pleased to hear that the Prime Minister called the President of Mexico yesterday. At this point we need a very aggressive approach by all the ministers and all of us who have contacts and relationships that have been built over the years with various members through the Canada-U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Group or elsewhere so that we can get our point across to them.
When people become frightened it is very easy for them to withdraw and say that they are going to block out everyone. That is going to hurt everyone in the world, not just the United States. I would hope that the Americans would see the light of day as people have seen the light of day on many different issues and that we would move forward.