Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  On August 12, 2011, Prime Minister Harper announced the conclusion of negotiations toward a Canada-Honduras free trade agreement: The Canada-Honduras Free Trade Agreement, along with parallel agreements on labour and environmental cooperation, will now undergo a legal review, after which it can be formally signed.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  You mentioned earlier the garment industry, and we mentioned, I think, that we were involved primarily in garment and mining. I think, and this is just coming from me, that you can do more from within than you can from without. Again, in a free trade agreement, if we were there and we have some free trade, do you feel there might be a chance that we might be able to affect some of the law, some of the infrastructure that might be there in Honduras?

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  That's what I look at. I look at our industry in some developing countries. We'd go in and train people, give them some experience, give them a job. In a lot of these places, if you don't have a job.... I was just in a school the other day, a grade 12 class, and a young lad said to me, “What are you doing for us at my age?”

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I might have put you in a difficult position. I'll change that. I understand your situation. Does the present government participate in the OAS, Organization of American States?

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Are they now looked on as a positive part of the organization?

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Thank you, and good morning, Sister; I guess it's good afternoon here. Do you think that the present government is behind some of these assassinations that are happening?

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  There's no meeting on Thursday.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I so move.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  There is no meeting on Thursday.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Unemployment in Egypt right now is fairly high, or is it relatively in a good spot? Again, this will cause problems in these various neighbourhoods. What do you see going forward for employment?

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  For my last question, if I may, we had some people commenting on Honduras the other day. In Honduras, 54% of the population is under the age of 15. The daily wage averages $2. Looking forward, I think that five years from now in Honduras the average age of 60% of the population, or maybe 65%, will be under 20.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Thank you, sir.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Is this the same judiciary, or was it changed?

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  You referred to the northern states where segregation was not the law but was practised anyway. I'm probably a little older than you are, and I do remember the situation in Detroit which was quite prevalent back in the 1950s. There would be white neighbourhoods and black neighbourhoods.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  At various committee meetings we have discussed the situation in Honduras and various other places, and the rule of law is very important. It seems to me if people don't go by the law, are not law-abiding, it can cause all kinds of problems. At this time is there a judicial vacuum, or is the rule of law being followed relatively closely?