Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I'm going to let Jeff search that one out. I'll speak a bit more generally. I'll let Jeff look for more particulars on the actual unions.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  That's a very good question. I'm only pausing because it could take a good deal of time to answer it fully. President Chávez was elected almost 11 years ago and re-elected several times, and in referendums he has a high degree of popularity. There is always perhaps a danger when you have that degree of popularity that you tend to concentrate power, and that seems to be the main trend line we've been seeing.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Sorry, could you just repeat the last part?

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I would agree. I think you have identified, though, the possibility or the potential that when there is that degree of rhetoric against a certain government or a policy, it can be misinterpreted. There are those of you around the table here who may have misinterpreted that, and there could be those in Venezuela.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  That is a very interesting question because we are currently celebrating 65 years of relations with Cuba. As I said earlier, we have had a rather good relationship with Cuba for a long time. There are, of course, going to be diverging opinions. We do not accept the situation of human rights in Cuba but, at the same time, we recognize that there have been some improvements in the fields of education and health in Cuba.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Perhaps I'll take the first part, Mr. Marston, and then leave the others to my colleagues. With regard to the priority in the Americas, I think it was in 2007 that Prime Minister Stephen Harper decided that one of his key foreign policy priorities would be the renewal and strengthening of relations with the Americas.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I thank you very much for your question. I don't have before me the entire diplomatic history of Canada and Venezuela diplomatic relations but, for a long time, human rights have been a part of Canadian diplomacy. I don't think there has been any change in that direction. Obviously I think our approach over the years has improved and intensified our capacity to communicate across the region, to collect information, and to react through regional and international organizations.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Thank you very much. In my opening presentation I stated that we did call for a special meeting of the Organization of American States on freedom of expression. At that meeting we gave a very strong statement of concern about developments in Venezuela and the closing space for the freedom of expression.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I'll make a couple of comments and then I'll give the floor to my colleague, Mr. Marder. As you know, since the deterioration of relations between the Venezuelan government and the Israeli government, the embassy has been closed, and Canada has assumed consular responsibilities for members of the Jewish community in Venezuela.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Yes.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I was going to open with an apology for perhaps stretching that 10-minute limit. I promise I'll be shorter next time, but since this is the first opportunity to speak to you, we wanted to give you the fullest picture possible. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before this Committee today to discuss the human rights situation in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

International Trade committee  I would just add a few words to what my colleague has said. It's not only what the Colombians are doing but the fact that they're opening to Canada to provide assistance. I mentioned earlier the moneys that the CIDA program is devoting. A lot of this is going into judicial reform, exactly into the areas you've been speaking about, helping marginalized communities, women, and indigenous groups to be able to have access to the judiciary, actually providing them with legal assistance, and of course it also being involved in the actual judicial reform.

International Trade committee  Thank you very much. In fact, your question is very timely, because it came up in the recent discussions of our national security advisor with President Uribe and others. They are very concerned. There have been a number of recent events that give them some concern with their neighbour in Venezuela.

International Trade committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will just make a few brief comments. I would note, in relation to my colleague on the free trade agreement with Colombia, that we see a direct linkage with our interest from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade with regard to peace building and human rights.

International Trade committee  No, it was. I must admit I was very touched by the very personal nature of the people whom he met in Colombia, but he said on coming back that many Colombians were stating—and I don't want to paraphrase you incorrectly, sir—that a free trade agreement would help reduce poverty, prevent the resurgence of illegal armed groups, and help prevent more Colombians from entering the narco-economy.