Of course I support the motion by my colleague Mr. Cardin.
The manufacturing sector is important to us in Quebec. You are aware of the situation. We have lost nearly 150,000 jobs in the manufacturing sector alone. This is a serious crisis. We believe that we can support this industry. We have seen what happened in the textile industry: whole plants have shut down. The same thing is now happening in the furniture industry, for example.
This industry very simply needs to have more support. We do not want protectionist measures to be applied: we want to have a plan to assist innovation and research put in place for this industry, so that it can become more competitive internationally. We believe in these industries. We have done the math: if the government does not implement support measures and the current losses continue, there will be no manufacturing industries left 15 years from now. They will have disappeared.
I believe we are capable of supporting them. In my riding, there are very productive industries that still need support for design and research, for example, to become more competitive internationally. We have to be capable of preserving these industries. If we leave it to the free market entirely, there are going to be closures. The manufacturing sector may disappear. In the case of the auto industry and other industrial sectors, we can see that support is needed. We have to act. We have to support these industries, while of course complying with international, trade and other laws.
The motion says we must "bring Canada's trade laws into line with the those of the United States and the European Union". Those countries have also been facing competition, and they have taken measures to support their industries. They have enacted laws to provide greater protection against dumping. We are not opposed to equal competition, but when it comes to exports, we note that China's currency, for example, is undervalued. We have to take measures, enact trade laws and improve our laws on trade. We are prepared to deal with competition, but it has to be between equals, human rights have to be respected, the dollar must have a fair value, and governments must not intervene directly in the production of goods to support business.
I believe that the government and the committee have to consider this issue. If we do not act, the manufacturing sector is going to disappear. This is a crisis. We have to act.