Mr. Speaker, based on the statements made by the minister and the parliamentary secretary, can we be assured that Quebec will not be used as a bargaining chip in the upcoming negotiations?
House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2011, with 33% of the vote.
Lumber February 27th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, based on the statements made by the minister and the parliamentary secretary, can we be assured that Quebec will not be used as a bargaining chip in the upcoming negotiations?
Lumber February 27th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, recent statements made by the Minister for International Trade are not at all reassuring, particularly since the parliamentary secretary told the House, yesterday and Friday, about a long term goal regarding free trade.
Will the government confirm today that a return to free trade in the short term, that is when the current agreement expires, is the only objective being sought in the negotiations with the Americans?
International Trade February 26th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the parliamentary secretary what he means by long term goal, but I will wait to do so.
I would like to know whether we are to understand from the government's position that, before negotiations even begin, the government will be stepping back from the position and the consensus held across Canada in the softwood industry.
International Trade February 26th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, the government has always maintained that the end of the softwood lumber agreement would signal the return to full free trade.
On Thursday, the Minister for International Trade left us somewhat confused by saying in this House that he anticipated transitional measures.
I would ask the Prime Minister if the government can confirm that Canada's position remains a return to free trade, pure and simple, and that no other solution may be considered?
Lumber Industry February 22nd, 2001
Mr. Speaker, still on the softwood lumber issue, the Minister for International Trade, who will be meeting with the U.S. commerce secretary, Mr. Zoellick, just referred to a consensus.
Could the minister assure us that this consensus is about restoring free trade for softwood lumber, as he said in the House and as the Prime Minister confirmed to the House a few weeks ago?
Free Trade Area Of The Americas February 21st, 2001
Mr. Speaker, since we do not have access to the basic texts to be used in the negotiations, could the minister give us today the assurance that none of these issues are on the agenda of the negotiations on the free trade area of the Americas?
Free Trade Area Of The Americas February 21st, 2001
Mr. Speaker, the Minister for International Trade has said time and again that Canada's position was that culture, health and education would never be included in the negotiations on the free trade area of the Americas.
Could the minister confirm today that Canada's position is still the same and that our country will never accept that these issues be negotiated under the free trade area of the Americas?
Free Trade Area Of The Americas February 20th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, what the minister appears not to understand is that the Canadian positions cannot be evaluated if we do not know the positions that are on the table being negotiated.
Does the minister understand that more and more bodies in civil society, in all communities throughout Canada and Quebec, are mobilizing against this negotiation? Does the minister not recognize that his lack of transparency and his close-mouthed attitude are responsible for this mounting public opposition?
Free Trade Area Of The Americas February 20th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, problems like those currently being experienced in relation to negotiations on the free trade area of the Americas have already arisen, when the multilateral agreement on investment was being negotiated. Why? Because of the same desire as today to keep everything secret.
When the government was asked what was going on, its answer to us was “Everything is fine. Trust us. There is no reason to be afraid”.
When the texts became known, we realized that we were headed for catastrophe and that a good portion of what is known as the Quebec model would have been passed over.
Are we to understand today that the minister is again asking us to place blind trust in him as far as the free trade area of the Americas is concerned? Is this what we are to understand?
Supply February 15th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, does the member not find something slightly paradoxical in the fact that one of the three themes for the upcoming summit of the Americas is the strengthening of democracy, when the government refuses to bet on democracy with regard to the free trade area of the Americas negotiations?