International Trade committee  I was very impressed to hear, and you would have heard this also, the NDP members who spoke today specifically trying to show how strongly they support free trade agreements, whereas the record shows that they have been consistently anti-trade. The committee will be travelling to Japan next week. What would your message be to the committee members who are travelling to Japan?

Employment  Speaker, we are all used to the NDP's recklessness and its rabid determination to impose a radical, Canada-wide, anti-trade, anti-development program. While the opposition insists on playing petty partisan politics, our government is remaining focused and working hard on creating jobs for Canadians. Can the minister give the House an update on the progress that has been made with regard to employment?

Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement  Since the FTA came into force in 1989, Canada's annual GDP has risen by $1.1 trillion, nearly 4.6 million jobs have been created in Canada and two-way trade with the United States in goods and services has more than tripled. Canadians may remember that the ideological, anti-trade, anti-development NDP actually opposed free trade with the United States. The NDP was on the fringes of economic policy 25 years ago and it remains on the fringes of Canadian economic policy today.

International Trade  They have consistently opposed opening new trade markets for our exporters ever since, and they even oppose trade with Norway. Try as they might, the New Democrats cannot hide from their anti-trade record.

International Trade  That is why, since 2006, our government has concluded 12 foreign investment protection agreements and we are actively negotiating with 13 other countries. Of course, we know that the NDP is anti-trade, and today we find out that they are anti-investment as well.

International Trade  In all cases, any awards and decisions of a tribunal will be made public. It is very clear the NDP is again showing its colours, anti-trade and anti-investment. On this side of the House we will continue to stand up for the interests of Canadians and find new markets for Canadian businesses.

International Trade committee  Chair, when I see the numbers of hours and the time put in this legislation, and when I hear my colleague from the NDP.... Of course, we all know the NDP is anti-trade anyway. It has been so detrimental to Canadian businesses. We all face these extra tariffs, which could be removed once this agreement is passed and implemented. I am from one of the western provinces.

Foreign Investment  Speaker, when we speak with the business community and entrepreneurs, the ones who created the wealth in this country, they tell us that they are very afraid of the proposed NDP carbon tax, $21 billion of revenue. They are afraid of the NDP's approach of anti-trade, anti-business, and anti-investment. I am speaking about Canada. I am proud to be Canadian. Everything we have done on this side of the House is in the best interests of Canada.

International Trade  Speaker, while the isolationist NDP, which consistently opposes trade agreements with other global neighbours, would close off Canada and Canadian products from the rest of the world, our Conservative government believes in increasing exports and increasing jobs in Canada. The NDP's anti-trade and high tax policies, like its tax on everything carbon tax, would be disastrous for the Canadian economy Could the Minister of State for Finance tell us how increased trade benefits the Canadian economy and helps to fuel job creation?

International Trade  It is laughable that he does not grasp the irony that if an NDP's reckless and irresponsible anti-trade agenda were imposed on Canada, there would be zero trade. Could the Minister of International Trade update the House on the government's plans to increase trade, help grow the economy and create jobs?

International Trade  Mr. Speaker, the NDP's anti-trade record is very clear. It has consistently opposed our government's efforts to open up new markets for Canadian exporters. Ever since the North American Free Trade Agreement, the NDP members have regularly called for Canada to erect new trade barriers.

Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada  He continues to spread false deficit numbers to mislead the Canadian public. He also fails to grasp the irony that if the NDP's reckless and irresponsible anti-trade agenda were imposed, Canada's trade would be zero. These policies, along with a new $20 billion carbon tax, would kill Canadian jobs and stall the economy. We encourage the NDP leader to read Andrew Coyne, who today wrote: A country whose economy is growing relatively slowly, compared to its trading partners, will buy rather less from them, and sell rather more.

Business of Supply  Our government's trade agenda has already made Canada one of the most open and globally engaged economies in the world, something which the protectionists and isolationists in the NDP adamantly oppose with their anti-trade agenda. In six years we have signed free trade agreements with nine countries and are in negotiations with many more. We have also concluded foreign investment promotion and protection agreements with 11 countries and are in active negotiations with 14 others.

International Trade  Mr. Speaker, it is no wonder that the NDP wants to hide from its anti-trade record. Its members opposed free trade with Norway. They opposed free trade with Liechtenstein. They opposed NAFTA. The NDP member for Burnaby—New Westminster even worked against Canadian exporters, calling Buy American a perfectly logical policy.

International Trade  They have opposed free trade agreements with countries such as Norway, Iceland and Switzerland. They have opposed a free trade agreement with Lichtenstein. The NDP is anti-trade. On this side of the House, we will continue to represent the interests of Canadians, not just special interests represented by the NDP.