Mark Eyking

[Supply, November 22nd, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Bloc member. How can we negotiate a better deal for our Canadian farmers at the WTO when the opposition parties are shutting down the House? It diminishes our political presence in Hong Kong and, with the motion they put forward in the agriculture committee yesterday, it really ties the hands of our negotiator to make a better deal for our farmers.

[John Junior Hanna, November 21st, 2005]

Madam Speaker, one of Cape Breton's hockey legends has passed away. John Junior Hanna lost his battle with cancer this weekend with his family by his side.

Junior Hanna was considered one of the greatest Nova Scotians to ever play in the Original Six. Junior Hanna was a proud and respected member of the Syrian and Lebanese communities in Sydney. As an icon in hockey circles, Junior Hanna was a mentor to many young players.

Junior Hanna turned professional in 1958 and joined the New York Rangers. He also played with the Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers over his 17 year career.

Junior Hanna became a professional player-coach in the AHL in 1973, with his coaching career spanning four seasons. Junior Hanna is a member of both the Nova Scotia Hall of Fame and the Cape Breton Sport Hall of Fame.

Junior Hanna was always straightforward. As a true lover of the game, he was always available to talk hockey. As a community leader, Junior Hanna will be remembered for his kindness, hard work, talent and respect for others.

I know I speak for many in the House when I send condolences to John Junior Hanna's family.

[Softwood Lumber, October 25th, 2005]

Mr. Chair, I commend my hon. colleague from Dartmouth on his speech and also on his understanding of this file. The hon. member is from an urban riding. I know Dartmouth quite well. Sometimes we think that this issue is mostly a rural issue, which it is not. The softwood lumber issue affects people in the urban centres just as much as the people in rural areas.

He spoke very well of our multifaceted approach on this file, whether it is litigation or how we are helping the communities. He also spoke of the different levels of communication with the U.S., whether it is the Prime Minister, the minister and even MPs speaking with their counterparts in the United States, the senators and congressmen. I also have to commend members of the official opposition and the other parties for working together. That is so important.

The member from Dartmouth stated that we have to have a cooperative and unified approach with no light between us. When we are approaching the U.S. or any country in trade matters, we have to be united. That shows that we are strong and together.

My question is on the whole idea of how the urban community is affected. How does the whole softwood lumber issue affect his riding and the city of Dartmouth?

[Softwood Lumber, October 25th, 2005]

Mr. Chair, I would first like to respond to the member's comments about the Prime Minister's involvement on this file. At every high level meeting, he is right there for us. Whenever he gets a chance to talk to the President of the United States or with the President of Mexico he brings this issue up. We are getting support not only from Mexico but also from previous presidents of the United States.

The NAFTA has given us great prosperity in the last 10 years. The NDP seems to look at it as though it is a bad agreement. I would like to know the NDP's stand on the NAFTA. Would those members be willing to tear it up?

The NDP has mentioned putting duties and tariffs on our energy exports. Not only is our lumber industry being hurt by tariffs, are those members willing to go the extra mile and hurt some of our other industries?

[Softwood Lumber, October 25th, 2005]

Mr. Chair, I listened with great interest to the speech from the member for Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, which is a great place to fish, by the way. I have fished there many times.

The government has always stood behind Atlantic Canada and the special case that Atlantic Canada has. Most of our woodlots are privately owned and almost negative subsidies go to our producers in Atlantic Canada. We have always stated that Atlantic Canada should be a special case and we expect the United States to continue to support our cause in that.

Does the member for Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley believe that the illegal fees collected from our companies by the U.S. should be returned to the companies that gave the money to the U.S.?

[Softwood Lumber, October 25th, 2005]

Mr. Chair, I would like to commend the hon. member from the Bloc Party on some of his comments on cooperation in the House. He mentioned many times that he would like to be a member of the forestry caucus and that we should work together. It is very important, even as Americans watch how we approach this whole challenge, that we have a unified approach in the House. It is good to hear the Bloc is interested in that.

My question to the Bloc is on its support for the NDP. Is there support for the NDP's recommendation of putting taxes on exports of energy and oil and is the Bloc in favour of retaliatory measures against imports coming into the country?

[Softwood Lumber, October 25th, 2005]

Mr. Chair, I would like to comment on the speech of hon. member for Vancouver Island North. I had the pleasure of travelling with him to Washington a couple of years ago. Along with some other MPs, we had to try to open some doors in Washington and talk to some of the senators and congressmen. He knows very well how difficult it is to get their time and to put our case forward.

He says he is very much in favour of an envoy and sending an envoy to Washington. He has also stated that he is in favour of opening negotiations. I would just like to know what the clear position is. If we send an envoy to Washington, will the envoy be opening negotiations? The Leader of the Opposition says there are no negotiations.

Could I have some clarity from the member for Vancouver Island North on the exact position of the Conservatives? Are there negotiations or not?

[International Trade, October 20th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, we are well aware of the Canadian International Trade Tribunal's recommendation for safeguards on bicycles. We will take it into consideration and do what is best for Canadians. Meanwhile, the Minister of Industry will be working with all industries that are impacted by cheap imports.

[Trade Compensation Act, October 19th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the trade compensation act proposes that the federal government provides compensation to Canadian industry associations or Canadian exporters who incur financial losses as a result of unjustifiable trade restrictive measures taken by foreign states which are signatories to trade agreements with our country.

Bill C-364 has two specific components. First, it would require the federal government to pay legal expenses incurred by Canadian industry associations or exporters in instances where a foreign state restricts Canadian exports in a manner that is found to contravene any bilateral or multilateral trade agreement between Canada and a government or state. It appears that the determination of whether a trade action is justified or not would be made by a tribunal established under the relevant bilateral or multilateral trade agreement.

The second component of the bill proposes that the government provides loan guarantees to cover deposits, sureties or bonds that may be required of Canadian exporters by the foreign state. Specifically, the bill stipulates that:

If the government of a foreign state requires that a Canadian exporter or a Canadian industry association deposit an amount of money with that government or post a surety or bond pending the final determination of a matter by the tribunal...the Minister [of Finance] shall provide a loan guarantee to the exporter or association in respect of that deposit, surety or bond.

When the hon. member for Fort McMurray—Athabasca tabled the bill he stated:

This bill is directed primarily toward those exporters who deal with foreign powers, specifically in this case toward farmers, on BSE, and toward softwood lumber.

Members of the House are quite aware that trade and all aspects of international commerce represent an important cornerstone of Canada's prosperity and economic success. With over $491 billion in exports of goods and services and over $437 billion in imports of goods and services in 2004, the role of international trade, and more precisely, unfettered trade, cannot be underestimated. This is precisely why the government is dedicated to further expansion of the defence of Canadian trade interests.

The government understands and appreciates the costs associated with the defence of trade disputes. Legal costs involved in trade disputes are often quite high. The length of disputes and the often numerous parties involved can explain why legal expenses can be significant.

That said, it has been the longstanding policy of the federal government not to accede to requests from Canadian industries for financial assistance to cover legal costs that they incur related to trade actions taken by trading partners. This policy reflects the extensive role of the federal government in matters of international trade. This role and expense incurred by the government must be understood. Like industry associations and Canadian exporters and like provincial governments with stakes in international trade disputes, the federal government also secures the service of legal counsel to assist in the defence of Canadian interests during trade disputes.

However the work of the government in this regard does not stop here, quite to the contrary.

The federal government devotes substantial financial and human resources to the defence and the representation of Canadian trade interests. This is particularly the case when a foreign state restricts or threatens to unjustifiably restrict trade.

There is no doubt that a unified Canadian position through collaborative work with all interested stakeholders represents the best tool in advancing Canadian interests at the international level. It is in recognition of this fact that the government has instituted over the years various consultative networks. These networks ensure that all stakeholders have the opportunity to work with the government in the defence of Canadian interests.

To begin, several federal departments are involved in international trade matters, including International Trade Canada, the Department of Finance, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Industry Canada, just to name a few. They work in a concerted effort to ensure that the agreed international trade rules are respected.

In addition, the federal government coordinates closely with other Canadian parties, including provincial governments, industry associations and companies, for one common objective, to represent vigorously and champion Canadian trade interests in the face of unjustified measures. It is through these various established consultative channels that we can explore all feasible avenues and assess all available options in the representation of Canadian interests in trade disputes.

These joint efforts have allowed the carrying out of focused advocacy campaigns aimed at fostering support for Canada's position in other countries. They have also contributed to informing and persuading key decision makers in other countries to adopt and promote a position that is favourable to our country.

It is in this context that the role of Canadian embassies and offices abroad are so essential. Our foreign representatives monitor and send reports to Ottawa on a daily basis. Any intelligence that could strengthen the future advocacy group is provided. They meet with decision makers at every level of government and establish contact with industry leaders, particularly those allied to Canadian interests, to promote Canadian objectives and to collaborate and pursue extending awareness and perspectives favourable to Canadian interests.

Furthermore, the government is firmly of the view that fair and enforceable international trade rules provide Canada's business community with the environment in which commerce can flourish.

I believe the hon. members of the House can all agree that these rules foster healthy trading relationships which in turn help the initiation of new disputes between partners.

The evolution of the trade rules over the past 50 years has not only contributed to Canada's prosperity but, just as important, these rules have helped to address trade irritants before they developed into disputes.

Nonetheless, we recognize the current rules governing international trade are not perfect. That is why our government dedicates considerable resources to ensuring that the integrity of international trade rules are upheld.

It is in this context that Canada is an active player in the current WTO Doha negotiations. Our objective in these negotiations is to advance new proposals with the purpose of clarifying and imposing existing trade rules and dispute settlements and procedures. Clearer and more transparent rules will not eliminate trade disputes but they will certainly help to avoid and to reduce their occurrence.

As a party to numerous international disputes, the federal government fully understands and appreciates the costs involved in such disputes. We remain committed to defending Canada's international trade rights. The government will continue to work in concert with domestic stakeholders to pursue targeted advocacy efforts in foreign markets when they are necessary for the defence and resolution of trade disputes.

Finally, Canada will continue to push in the context of the WTO negotiations for clearer and improved trade rules with a view to providing a more predictable environment for commerce to flourish so as to reduce, to the extent possible, trade disputes between countries.

However for the government to formalize the funding program to compensate legal costs incurred by private organizations would not be the most effective and efficient use of our resources.

[Boxing, April 13th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise in the House of Commons today to congratulate one of my constituents, Michael Gerrow. Michael is a 15-year-old resident of Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia.

Today I am proud to announce that Michael has returned from Prince George, B.C. where he received a gold medal in the welterweight division of the Canadian Boxing Championship.

Michael is a member of the Tommy Gordon Boxing Club in Florence, Cape Breton where he is coached by John MacNeil. John and other volunteers at the boxing club are doing a great job working with the youth of our community and are to be commended for their good work.

Cape Breton is very proud of Michael and gave him a hero's welcome at home in Florence. On behalf of all Cape Bretoners, I want to congratulate Michael and the Tommy Gordon Boxing Club on their hard-earned success and wish Michael many more gold medals.