Evidence of meeting #65 for Finance in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was spectrum.
A video is available from Parliament.
NDP
Peggy Nash NDP Parkdale—High Park, ON
Thank you very much.
I would like to ask a question of Erin Weir, but I have about—
NDP
Peggy Nash NDP Parkdale—High Park, ON
I would like you to comment on the Investment Canada Act. For situations like the U.S. Steel takeover, for example, where Canadians were never able to find out the terms of that agreement—I think we eventually learned about it through a court case. Do you think Canadians ought to be able to find out exactly what the commitments are to Canadians?
Economist, United Steelworkers
I think it's very important to disclose that information as a matter of democracy, but also as a practical matter of being able to hold companies to the commitments. The commitments don't mean anything if they're secret.
Conservative
Conservative
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
Thank you, Chair.
Again, I'd like to thank the witnesses for coming this evening and being part of this very important process. What you say does have an impact on how we go through...and the implementation of the budget is a very important matter for Canadians as a whole.
I come from the province of Saskatchewan. In the last five years the province of Saskatchewan has gone through tremendous change. It's gone through a tremendous amount of growth. It's seen policies that have created growth. It's the only province in Canada that has balanced its budget. It has a premier who has allowed business to flourish, who has encouraged growth, and who has gone around the world trying to get employees. He was just in Ireland, trying to get employees from Ireland to go there, because we need specific trades; we need people to fill all the jobs that have been created.
In the early 2000s, when I was in Saskatchewan under an NDP government, we saw families moving out of Saskatchewan. Mr. Jean probably enjoyed that year, because in his riding everybody who worked there was either from Newfoundland or Saskatchewan. Now I know a lot of Saskatchewanians are moving back home and joining their families. I find it really interesting.
Mr. Weir, I'm going to direct this to you. You've been quoted as saying that Premier Wall is fanning the flames of western alienation because he dared to speak out against NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair's attack on the Saskatchewan resource sector. I'm just baffled by that. First, Mr. Wall did not start this debate; it was Mr. Mulcair. Mr. Wall was just defending the growth that's happened in Saskatchewan. I'd also like to point out that the growth in Saskatchewan has had tremendous spinoff effects right across Canada.
You can't honestly say we'd be better off without a strong resource sector. Is that what you're saying?
Economist, United Steelworkers
No, that's not what I'm saying. I'm not sure what this question has to do with the Investment Canada Act or the omnibus budget bill.
Conservative
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
Actually, it has a lot to do with your credibility as a witness.
Economist, United Steelworkers
Having said that, I'm happy to answer it.
Will you give me a chance to—
Economist, United Steelworkers
Could you give me a chance to respond then? It seems to me that—
Conservative
NDP
The Vice-Chair NDP Peggy Nash
One at a time, please.
Mr. Hoback, do you want to clarify your question?
Conservative
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
The reason I'm going there is.... In 2004 were you not a candidate for the NDP in Wascana?
Economist, United Steelworkers
Yes, I absolutely was an NDP candidate in the riding of Wascana.
Conservative
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
Really, what does the man's candidacy in 2004 have to do with this? I implore this committee to consider what is being asked.
Conservative
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
The reason I ask this, Chair, is when we bring witnesses here we take them very seriously, and their credibility is very important.
I'm looking at this witness and I'm saying this is not a credible witness. This witness is not necessarily speaking on behalf of the economy; he's speaking on behalf of the NDP of Canada or the NDP in Saskatchewan. So how do I take what he tells me and give it credibility when I see garbage in what he's put in previous articles?
When you start talking about the implications of the budget implementation act, how can I stipulate, when I look at your history...? You're criticizing Saskatchewan. You're criticizing the premier of Saskatchewan. You've blamed Saskatchewan's growth for creating unemployment in Ontario, which is totally false.
So how do I take you as being credible when you talk about other aspects of the budget?
Economist, United Steelworkers
Okay. First of all, to go back to your original point, Mr. Mulcair made some very reasonable observations, which is that this boom in the resource sector has driven up the exchange rate to the detriment of manufacturing and other export industries across the country. The province of Saskatchewan itself has lost 5,000 manufacturing jobs since Premier Wall took office, and it's—
