International Trade Committee on March 22nd, 2011

[Jean-Yves Laforest, Bloc, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Mr. Chair, from listening to everyone's arguments, I think we have to clarify some of the things that have been said. I feel that this motion is still important. Some think it is useless and are making arguments that are not necessarily true or well-founded, in my opinion. Mr. Keddy said earlier that there can be no negotiations on trading water under NAFTA. I think it is crystal clear that NAFTA is a general free trade agreement and that means that it applies to all goods and services that are not excluded. For example, hydroelectric production, military purchases, banks, telecommunications companies and products under supply management are all sectors that are specifically excluded from NAFTA. But nowhere in NAFTA is it written that water is excluded. So we have to be careful.

I think this really confirms what a number of stakeholders came here to tell us about AbitibiBowater. As I said earlier, it is not just them, but also the public at large who are telling us to be cautious because water has to be fully protected. And NAFTA is not protecting it.

But Mr. Julian's motion is definitely aimed at preserving natural resources, in particular water, in Canada and Quebec.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Thank you, Monsieur Laforest.

Mr. Cannis.

[John Cannis, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Mr. Chair, I'll just be brief, as my Sicilian great-great-grandfather used to say.

In all seriousness, as Mr. Julian said, on such an important day, World Water Day, I think it's not wise for us to exploit this for whatever reason--and I'll refrain from adding any other word to it--on budget day especially.

Mr. Julian is well aware that he and I have served on this trade committee probably longer than anybody else, and the water issue has always been there. Our position has not been ambiguous in any way. It's been very clear. I think the government side gave various examples. Our former Liberal colleague and then their colleague, former Minister Emerson, and my colleague the critic, Martha Hall Findlay, were very clear.

Somebody said that we should not waste taxpayers' money and let's be more productive. Our position is clear. We've stated it over and over again. Let's move beyond this. I don't know how else to put it, but I think the argument that my colleague put forward makes a lot of sense. Let's stop it here. I would suggest, Mr. Chair, that you take no more speakers and move on to the next phase.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

I have a suggestion that we call the question.

I'll call the question if there's no further debate.

(Motion negatived)

That, ladies and gentlemen, concludes our business for today. I thank you for your cooperation. Mr. Julian, particularly, thank you for your cooperation today. We dealt with these matters.

We will meet again on Thursday and deal with the Canada-United States trade relations report.

Thank you.