His favourite word was companies.
Won his last election, in 2006, with 43% of the vote.
Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. member knows this probably is not an issue that is of great concern in British Columbia. It is an issue that seems to be focused on the border areas between Ontario and Quebec. I am sure the IJC will come up with the wisdom of Solomon and produce a recommendation that will be good for both Quebec and Ontario.
Mr. Speaker, the IJC is in the middle of a consultative process on this very issue. It is receiving submissions from different local and provincial governments. When it has all the information in, it will produce a recommendation. When it produces a recommendation, we will look at it and we will respond in the way which we think best reflects the national interest.
Mr. Speaker, the International Joint Commission is in the process of going through consultations. We have not received a plan. It is my impression that it does not have a plan yet. It is looking at a number of options. When we receive the advice of the IJC we will make a decision.
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member already asked this question and I think we did praise Louise Arbour. I congratulated her. We thanked her for the good work she has done.
I would just take this opportunity to reinforce the hard work that Canada is doing across a range of areas to promote and protect human rights in the world.
Mr. Speaker, we congratulate the work of Louise Arbour. We very strongly support the United Nations in its pursuit of the protection of human rights and will continue to do so.
Mr. Speaker, as I said, we are looking forward to receiving the report from the IJC. We are looking forward to the completion of consultations. Whatever we do will be in the national interest.
Mr. Speaker, we are looking forward to receiving this plan. We understand the IJC has consultations under way and we would like to see those consultations completed. When receive its report, we will respond appropriately.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Westlock—St. Paul for his many years of diligent work on this very issue.
Mr. Chair, I think our most effective strategy, and it is going to take time, is to ensure that as many countries as possible are party to multilateral agreements, trying along the way to ensure that some of the outliers that have not become party to the agreements start to feel some moral and diplomatic pressure from those who are.
Mr. Chair, we clearly recognize that it is not exclusive to deal with advocacy on human rights and related issues, and to pursue a robust and growing trade relationship. When we look at the data, our trade relationship is growing. Our investment relationship is growing.
The time that I spent in China the last couple of years and the last few trips over there, there is just tremendous interest on the part of China in engaging and working with Canada to promote two-way investment, to engage in dialogue on issues of concern to us as the Chinese have issues of concern to them. That is what is happening and that will continue to happen.