Mrs. Nina Grewal: Mr. Speaker, the Canada-Colombia free trade agreement provides a unique opportunity for Canadian exporters to secure duty-free access to a market where their main competitors have none. This kind of advantage is critical for exporters relying on tight margins to survive and grow, but the NDP and the Bloc, with support from the Liberals, have been holding up this important economic bill for more than 33 hours.

Can the Minister of State tell the House why we need to stop the delays to get Bill C-23 moving?

 Hon. Peter Kent, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Americas): Mr. Speaker, Canada’s deal with Columbia is good for Canadian business, but economic opportunities and human rights are not mutually exclusive. We are talking about an agreement that will bind Columbia to tougher labour and environmental standards and improved human rights. More importantly, we are creating legitimate jobs and opportunities for Columbians looking for alternatives to narcotic trafficking.

Let me join the Council of Chief Executives and Canadian manufacturers and exporters in urging the opposition parties, all the opposition parties, to pass Bill C-23 without any further delay.