Sergio Marchi

[Trade, March 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, we have our priorities straight. It is the member who has his facts wrong. We make no apologies for standing up for culture. We make no apologies for defending Canada. The member should get on board and know who his friends are.

[Trade, March 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the member has it absolutely wrong. We do not accept for one moment the preamble to this question.

Canada is always prepared to stand up for itself. It regards its sovereignty and its issues of national interest as paramount. We make no apologies for being good friends and allies to the Americans, but as our Prime Minister has said often, business is business and friendship is friendship.

[Canada-Palestine Relations, March 8th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I want to start by thanking the hon. member for his interest. A new page has been turned in the history of Canada-Palestine relations.

The Palestinians are planning their future and Canada intends to help them do so. In particular, we have signed a framework agreement to facilitate trade exchanges, knowing that peace and prosperity are linked.

[Softwood Lumber, March 5th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, a few years ago when the two governments entered into this agreement, it had the virtual unanimous blessing of the national industry. It also had the virtual unanimous blessing of the provincial governments involved. Clearly it was very much a private sector solution that led to the agreement my predecessor worked on.

We met with the industry some weeks ago. We are beginning the process of determining now rather than later how this agreement is working, whether we want it to continue and if not, what changes can be brought to it.

[Water, March 5th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know where the member was but a few days ago, my colleagues the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of the Environment offered the solution to that very question on two tracks.

The first one is with respect to the boundary waters with the United States and the federal government takes leadership and has full sovereignty. On the question of bulk water extraction, we have been in touch with the provincial governments and have agreed to move on a national policy basis to eliminate bulk extraction and to also have a moratorium. Both tracks work in the best interests of Canadians in this very important issue in terms of water supplies.

[Publication Industry, February 9th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, not only does the member have something in his water but his ears are obviously plugged because the minister of heritage answered that very question moments ago.

[Export Of Candu Reactors, February 9th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, it has been shown that Candu reactor technology is a leading technology not only that we wish to export, but we also have the faith of using it here in Canada.

We have promoted Candu technology. It is not only safe, but it is also affordable and certainly superior to any other existing technology. It needs to be seen as an alternate to burning dirty coal, as many countries around the world still do, which is not a solution to the important issue of climate protection.

[Agriculture, December 7th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, one has to wonder which side the trade critic for the Reform Party of Canada is on.

What he is asking is that the blockade should have been bigger and longer. If we look at what happened over the weekend, those blockades were already set. I believe, as does the American side of the equation, that this agreement led to those blockades being much smaller.

In fact, the only protest left is the one in Montana. It started in three states. I think the member should recognize that progress was made, which is also for Canadian producers themselves.

[Agriculture, December 7th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, if he does not trust our words here is what the Canadian Federal of Agriculture said: “Congratulations are in order for both the agriculture and trade minister for Canada. The agreement marks a positive step forward in Canada-U.S. agriculture trade relations and is good news for Canadian producers”.

As of 1 o'clock this afternoon, the only blockade we can speak of is a group of farmers on Montana's border. The other blockades have ceased. This one, I am assured, will cease as of 4 o'clock. Trade was not severely restricted this weekend.

[Bill C-55, November 30th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, there is no caving in anywhere. If the hon. gentleman took the time to read the article, he would find quotes from me talking about the minister of heritage who last week publicly said that if there are meaningful amendments while preserving the very essence of the bill, that she is open to hearing them from the committee. I said that if it is not too late to talk about those amendments, then why would we not want to talk to our best client and our best partner and in essence our best friend as well. It is completely within the same ambit of the government agenda.