Herb Dhaliwal

[Natural Resources, May 15th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for Thunder Bay--Atikokan because he has taken a tremendous amount of interest in this area.

As members know, Canada is one of the world's foremost mineral producer and exporter, producing some 60 mineral commodities. We are also a world leader in the development and export of mining equipment, expertise and innovation. Our mineral exports earn approximately $46 billion a year, and accounted for more than 12% of Canada's total domestic exports in 2001.

In the last budget, we put in more incentives to ensure that we continued to be a leader in the mining area. In fact we have more mining interests now than ever before. We will continue to be a leader in the world in the--

[Softwood Lumber, May 15th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member is talking about dealing with the workers, as he knows we announced $350 million to make sure we support workers and we support communities. In fact, my colleague responsible for WED has put out a call to see how we can diversify their community economies: $50 million of new programs to help in tourism and help them diversify their economies. We are monitoring the situation very closely. We know that the dollar value does have an effect, but we are making sure that we are helping those communities that need it through the $350 million program which we announced.

[Softwood Lumber, May 14th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the government is very much aware of the challenge that the forestry industry is facing. In fact, that is why we put together a package with the Minister of Human Resources Development, with the Minister of Industry and myself of $350 million to support workers, to find new markets, to invest in research and development and support employees and community adjustments.

We are monitoring the situation closely. If more support is needed, we have made a commitment that we will be there to support the forestry industry and the employees. We are monitoring it and we will be watching it very closely.

[Softwood Lumber, May 12th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is wrong when he says we have been passive. In fact we have not been passive. The leader of the Bloc says we have not done anything. There is $356 million, a comprehensive plan to deal with finding new markets, to doing research and development, to do community adjustment, to make sure we help in terms of employment training. That is what we have been doing, and we will continue to monitor the situation. The hon. member is wrong when he says we have been passive. We have been active. We have been out there supporting workers and supporting the industry.

[Cartagena Protocol, May 9th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, as the environment minister has said in the House before, we are working with the stakeholders to ensure that Canadian interests are carried through. I would think the hon. member would want to ensure that we consult with farmers and with all stakeholders before we move forward. We support the principle, but we must ensure that we protect all Canadians and stakeholders across the country and do it with consultation.

Is the hon. member against consultation? Is the hon. member against ensuring that we take care of Canadian interests? Yes, we support the principle, but we want to make--

[Softwood Lumber, May 9th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the government provided a comprehensive package to deal with softwood lumber, including community adjustment, research and development and looking for new markets for Canadian wood products.

The hon. member has not stated with which part of that comprehensive package that she disagrees. This is something that has been supported by Canadians across the country and she should work with us to support that because I think it is the right way to go.

The hon. member should stand up and say how good this package is and how well it is working to ensure we protect and support Canadians across the country.

[Softwood Lumber, May 7th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, we are monitoring the situation very closely across the country and, yes, if we need to do more, we have said right from day one that we will. However what we really need to do is resolve this issue to ensure that we have a long term agreement so we can benefit from free trade and so our lumber products can go to the U.S. without any duty. That is what we intend to do.

[Softwood Lumber, May 7th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada announced $356 million to support the workers and the communities. In fact we are now asking for proposals for community programs that can ensure that we diversify the economy of small communities which have been affected, and we are working together.

Also my colleague, the minister of trade, is working very hard to ensure that we get a resolution to this issue. It is the government's priority to resolve the softwood lumber issue with the U.S.

[The Environment, April 10th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I want to assure the hon. member and all members of the House that the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission does its job to ensure that we protect all Canadians. When there are any leaks of this sort they are made public so the public is aware.

I do not accept the allegations that the hon. member has put forward, but if he has information that he wants to put forward that I can provide to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, I certainly would be willing to do that.

[Natural Resources, April 3rd, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to inform the House that on April 1, I signed an agreement with the hon. Shri Ramesh Bais, minister of mines for India, which will strengthen our cooperation and lead to benefits for science and business in the field of geoscience.

It will help develop a greater collaboration with India and lay the foundation for future projects. The agreement builds on the Government of Canada's commitment to making Canada a world leader in innovation.