Foreign Affairs committee  If I discuss with American counterparts what Canada is doing in Europe...?

Foreign Affairs committee  Okay. I'm not sure on what you call my counterparts, because I changed jobs recently, so I don't have the same counterparts that I did some months ago. Also, the American administration has changed in the meantime. I've had a lot of discussions with Americans about the relations

Foreign Affairs committee  I was with the Prime Minister in Germany some weeks ago, and I can tell you how much the Germans want to share with us any understanding we may have of the relationship with the United States. It's key for them. They have a lot of interest in that and in the capacity of Canada to

Foreign Affairs committee  You will need to invite me again, as Madame Laverdière said. I am eager to start. The Prime Minister said the beginning of May, and we're at the beginning of May, so it will happen pretty soon. I have had a lot of exchanges with European officials about what we can do together. I

Foreign Affairs committee  These are not my priorities but the Prime Minister's priorities, since I am his special envoy. The first one is to make sure that our trade agreement will succeed for Canadians. The second one is what we just discussed, which is how Canada can support Europe in the values that

Foreign Affairs committee  There's also our relationship with the United States.

Foreign Affairs committee  It doesn't take very long, when you talk with them, before they raise this issue.

Foreign Affairs committee  Since I am no longer the minister, I would prefer that the minister answer your question herself. I think we can guess at what the issues will be, but I think that that information should be provided to you by the minister.

Foreign Affairs committee  I think it's a key role. In Canada—and it's beyond political parties—we know that we are a trading nation, that we need trade. We have also the duty to show that, if it's well negotiated, a free trade agreement is not a race to the bottom on social justice, environmental protecti

Foreign Affairs committee  It will be at the core of what we need to do with the Europeans. You mentioned the challenges they are facing within Europe. I just quoted EC president Tusk—I prefer to use his words instead of putting words in his mouth—who said that xenophobia is on the rise in Europe. There's

Foreign Affairs committee  Yes, indeed.

Foreign Affairs committee  I am the Prime Minister's special envoy to the European Union and Europe.

Foreign Affairs committee  Yes.

Foreign Affairs committee  That is correct.

Foreign Affairs committee  Yes. He does an excellent job, and so this will make mine easier. The excellence of our current diplomatic team on site, including in Germany, where there is a very strong mission at this time, will be of great assistance to me. The number two person in Germany—since the ambassad