2009-04-02
07:22:44
Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty has returned from a fact-finding mission in Columbia.
Rafferty participated in a four-day junket with Federal Minister of State of Foreign Affairs for the America's Peter Kent. The trip comes on the heels of last weeks decision by the Harper government to introduce legislation aimed at implementing a free trade agreement signed with Columbia in 2008.
"I wanted to get a good sense what it will mean for us," says Rafferty, "but alway want to make sure if you implement something like that workers, indigenous people and others in Columbia don't get the short end of the stick."
"I meant with all kinds of groups, civil society groups, women's groups, union groups, business owners, small business, big business, Canadian business."
Some opposition members are opposed to such a deal with Columbia because of that country's poor human rights record.
