Madam Chair, I would like to take the time to congratulate the minister for his new role. As someone who has worked with him on the Canada-Africa file, it is very nice to see the role that he is taking in advancing trade for Canada.
I have some questions for the minister. As the Prime Minister received a mandate to make sure that we can establish new trading partners around the world and build new economic and security relationships, can the minister tell this House how free trade agreements come to fruition and how we can create well-paying jobs both here in Canada and abroad through trade missions?