International Trade committee  Should we sign a deal with a country with arguably the worst human rights record in the hemisphere and with a government mired in political scandal for its close links to paramilitary death squads? Our view is no. This is not a position that is in any way anti-trade. Beyond all the issues of tariffs and schedules, a trade deal remains, at its heart, an international agreement between two governments--a statement of commitment and belief in each other as economic and political partners.

International Trade committee  I just want to reiterate the fact that was mentioned, that there seems to be this misconception that, specifically, people who raise questions about this potential free trade agreement are anti-trade. That's not the case. The Liberal Party historically has signed many free trade agreements and represents free and fair trade. I think all of you have demonstrated that as well in your comments, that you support free trade and it's actually important for our Canadian manufacturers and workers.

Agriculture committee  How can Canada allow products from the U.S., our principal trading partner, to come in without any harmonization and without any restrictions? The Canadian government has issued regulations on BSE. These are anti-trade restrictions. They are preventing us from trading properly with other countries. If the Canadian government wants to eliminate the beef industry in Canada, let it say so, and do so.

International Trade committee  We have a different vision of what North America must look like and what we need to hold on to. We are not anti-trade. We hope we continue to have wonderful trade relationships with the United States. But strong fences make good neighbours, as well, and we need to protect ourselves on this side of the border.

Canadian Livestock Industry  Namely, it should stand with government members in condemning the United States Senate for adopting a protectionist, anti-trade, anti-science based assessment motion which effectively keeps the border closed. As I stated a moment ago, the continued closure of the border is the result of a United States judge in Montana accepting the narrow protectionist arguments of R-CALF, a splinter group of U.S. producers determined to keep the border closed in order that they will be able to inflate prices to their consumers and really damage the whole idea of an integrated marketplace in North America and the whole idea of free trade.

Supply  I am talking about culture in as broad sense: what kind of world we want to live in and how we could continue to express our vision of that world. Critics of mine and the critics of other protesters have tried to say that we are anti-trade. We have heard that today in this room. We are not anti-trade. We are pro-trade. We are pro-community. We want our voices to count through our democratically elected government. We understand that we are inextricably linked globally by our telecommunications, by our labour and by our environment.

Supply  There is a world of difference. We need to put forward very clearly that the our position is not one that is anti-trade and pro-protectionism. It is not a position that is anti-internationalism and somehow pro-isolationism. Nothing could be further from the truth. That is why we welcome the opportunity to put our own position forward, not to have it distorted and represented by others as being somehow anti-trade.

Softwood Lumber  It is only the U.S. consumer interest, understanding the perspective of that country, that would be able to stop this group of small anti-trade very closely held landowners from being able to inflict this kind of damage on my constituency, on our country and on the consumer of the U.S. There is however one small light in the tunnel.

Canada-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act  Critics of mine and the critics of other protesters have tried to say that New Democrats are anti-trade but that simply is not true. We are pro-trade. We are pro-community. We want our voices to count through our democratically elected governments. We do not want past mistakes of trade, specifically the recognition of investor's rights as being equal to the rights of government, to be preserved and expanded.

Natural Gas  Madam Speaker, that is part of the free market economy. The NDP are not anti-business or anti-trade. As long as it is fair business on a level playing field that will benefit Canadians, the NDP will support. Thousands of jobs are tied to the natural gas resource sector. This is good.

Treaties Act  It is important that this occur partly because of some of the misinformation and mistruths about trade agreements that are utilized by anti-trade individuals and organizations, for example with the MAI or previous to that the free trade agreement and NAFTA. Solid information and a solid process of engagement and discussion will help to eliminate a lot of the incorrect and sensationalist arguments against these treaties.