Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the interest of my colleague across the floor. He brought up quite a number of issues, but today I would like to take this opportunity to respond to his concern on the Three Gorges issue.
We have to recognize that the decision by the Chinese government on the Three Gorges dam project is not based on the support of Canada. The hon. member spoke about quite a number of reasons on the negative side, but I would also like to bring the attention of the House to the positive aspects of that project.
The Chinese have begun work on that based on several reasons, one of which is the urgent need to protect some 10 million people from flooding below the dam site and also China currently uses coal based energy sources, which we all agree have a large negative impact on the environment. Hydro electricity is a cleaner source of energy. China faces critical shortfalls in electric power which hamper the creation of jobs in a disadvantaged region of China. There is a need to improve navigation on the Yangtze River so as to allow shipping to reach Chongoing, one of China's largest cities.
In a Chinese context, the Chinese government, faced with the urgency of the region's requirements, considered the solution to be both viable and optimum. It is implementing the project. That decision is not based on what Canada has decided to do.
On balance we see the contribution of Canadian companies as positive. Canada is a world leader in the environmental technologies and services sector. Canadian companies, therefore, have an important and significant contribution to make to China as it
addresses the environmental aspects of this project. Their participation could introduce management and technical features that would reduce the project's negative impact. That is why the government will support Canadian firms. Their environmental practices and expertise could positively influence the project.
Also it is important to note that the Canadian power sector has identified China as a key market to bridge flagging domestic demand and to ensure its survival over the next decade. They are using a Team Canada approach to China. Their participation in the Three Gorges project could create some 35,000 jobs in Canada, many of which would be in the troubled high value added electrical industry and SME suppliers.
Canadian hydroelectric and environmental firms are among the best in the world and are therefore well placed to win contracts. However international competition will be intense. Business and the attendant jobs in Canada will only be won with strong government support.