International Trade committee  If I recall, you didn't support a free trade agreement with the United States, but that's another matter.

International Trade committee  We came to talk about South America, Mr. Chairman.

International Trade committee  I don't think the North Koreans are interested in free trade with anyone.

International Trade committee  The reality is that Canadians care about human rights and we are not passive about it. We engage other countries around the world because we want to make the situation better. One way to improve the situation of human rights in Colombia and in other countries is to engage them and bring them towards the rule of law.

International Trade committee  That is what is already happening. If you look at what has happened in Colombia over the past decade, as Colombia has succeeded in engaging in more legitimate trade, we have seen a relative decline in the narco-economy . We have seen improvements in human rights. We have seen an improvement in general human development, according to the latest United Nations Human Development Index.

International Trade committee  I think your question begs the answer. Coming to your first question, clearly, the easier we make it to do legitimate business, obviously the more we decrease the room for the underground, the illegal economy. The more opportunities there are for Colombians to do well in a market economy subject to the rule of law, the less incentive there is to get involved in the drug trade, and I think the better off all Colombians are going to be.

International Trade committee  I would suggest that in any case where we're looking at our relationship with a particular trading partner, and a number of countries are looking at improving their trade relations, if we get in there first we're going to have an advantage. I think in particular here there's an opportunity for Canadian companies and Canadian farmers, agricultural exporters in particular, to gain in export over their American counterparts if we get in there first.

International Trade committee  Yes, if that's all right with you, Mr. Chairman.

International Trade committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you to the members for the opportunity to appear this morning to talk about trade with South America, and obviously with particular reference to Canada-Colombia. My colleague Sam Boutziouvis is with me and will help me with any questions that come up.

International Trade committee  There are a couple of pieces to that. On the one hand, the more we do to make it easier for people to get a document that will let them cross the border conveniently, the better. On the other hand, I think there is an issue of proliferation of cards. At the consumer level, I'm worried that the enhanced driver's licences aren't going to be ready in sufficient quantity to prevent back-ups this summer, and I'm not sure how long the implementation period may be.

International Trade committee  That's a very complex question. It's hard to pick only one action that should be taken. As I mentioned to your colleague, it's first a matter of leadership. We have to have clear authority in each country to find solutions. It's the process that has to be improved first. Solutions to the practical issues will come.

International Trade committee  We also have to have a positive approach. We have to tell the Americans that we don't just have complaints, but solutions to suggest as well.

International Trade committee  We've just written a letter to Prime Minister Harper, which was published yesterday, and I can't give you any details on that subject. Protectionism is very important issue not only for Canada and the United States, but for the entire world as well. That has to be a topic of prime importance in London.

International Trade committee  Again I'd reinforce the fact. The American business community I think is a very strong ally of ours in this one because they understand the extent to which their commercial interests depend on a smooth flow of goods and people across our shared border. We've been able to work very effectively with our counterparts on the trilateral agenda and on the bilateral agenda, and obviously when we're taking on measures that restrict trade, they are very powerful allies when it comes to dealing with folks on Capitol Hill.

International Trade committee  Again, within the SPP, it has been done with our industry minister as the lead player, the commerce secretary in the United States, and the equivalent minister in Mexico. That's a trilateral process. As we are launching a new process, that's something we have to work out. If the key issues are going to be on the security side, maybe we have to talk about Minister Van Loan and Secretary Napolitano.