Mr. Speaker, I listened with some interest to what the member who just spoke was saying, but I have to say I find it utter nonsense.
The member is in favor of free trade, in favor of international trade. But does he know that, for example, Quebec's Unibroue, the micro-brewery Quebeckers are so proud of because it produces a quality beer that is sold all over the world, is unable to sell a single bottle of beer in Ontario because of the tariffs and structures the Ontario government has put in place to keep out producers from Quebec and, I suppose, from other provinces also?
I would like to say to the member that, without customers from Quebec who bought cars made by Ford, Chrysler and GM in Ontario, at almost double the price these same products are sold for in the United States, without protectionist measures, the Ontario economy would have taken a nosedive and its automobile industry would be dying.
I am in favor of trade, but we have to start from identical bases and production costs must be identical because of the commitment of governments to respect certain rights.
How can we sell a welding product, for example, when a welder in this country must wear special protective clothing, his workshop must be heated, and he must receive a minimum salary, whereas in Venezuela, I saw a welder working in shorts, barefoot, on the street corner, using the bottom of a bottle for a mask? How can we be competitive in these situations?
I would like my colleague to explain this to me because he seems to be the one who has the absolute truth, today, in the House.