Mr. Chair, of course we will be careful. We will be careful in all of the negotiations. We take great interest in protecting the rights of Canadians and in protecting jobs. To say that we are not doing that is unfair.
The member said that there were no negotiations or discussions with other organizations. The government has consulted with non-governmental organizations, trade unions and industry to ensure that their interests and concerns are taken into consideration in developing our negotiating position with the European Union.
As with every international agreement, our agreement with the European Union will be subject to the treaties in Parliament. When this agreement is reached, we will have extensive debate in this place as to the validity of this agreement and whether it should be passed.
Moreover, legislation to implement the agreement, like any other free trade agreement, will come to Parliament where parliamentarians will vote on it. This process will allow industry, non-governmental organizations and others to express their views.
Most of the members who have spoken today are members of the international trade committee. I am not a member of that committee but I am quite aware that every free trade agreement that has gone through this place has ended up in that committee and has been dealt with extensively, where it debated the pros and cons on whether those agreements should be passed.