Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to participate in this very important debate, particularly as I said earlier because shipbuilding is such an important component of the economy in my riding of West Nova.
Since the first European settlers arrived in West Nova, boat building has played an integral role in our rural society. Moving along the rich coastal waters of the Bay of Fundy, many of my constituents are involved in the fishing industry and as such depend on the expertise of our very experienced shipbuilding industry.
What scares me about the downturn and the lack of a shipbuilding policy is the potential loss of expertise of our shipbuilders. Not only are we losing the economic benefits of shipbuilding but we might lose the expertise that they have. I would want that to continue.
Shipbuilding in West Nova grew sharply during the second world war as the allies worked feverishly to prepare our navy for the daunting task that lay ahead, which culminated with our victory in the Battle of the Atlantic. West Nova has some of the finest shipbuilders in the world. They have developed their expertise after decades of practising their trades for local fishers.
We have a federal government that is indifferent to the shipbuilding industry. Throughout the world we can find examples of countries that are supporting their own shipbuilding industry. We need only look to the south of us to see the United States and the Jones act which effectively prevents our Canadian shipyards from competing with U.S. shipbuilding interests.
Our colleagues from across the way continue to refer to the past when NAFTA and free trade were negotiated. It is incumbent upon the government to look at the future. The Jones act has not been working. It is something that really affects our ability to be competitive in the shipbuilding industry. I would urge the government to work with the U.S. to reduce or remove the effects of the Jones act.
Obviously the U.S. has recognized the importance of shipbuilding to its local economies. Our own Liberal government, despite repeated promises to introduce a new shipbuilding policy both in 1993 and in 1997, has decided to turn its back on this vital industry.
This industry could easily employ 10,000 employees instead of the fewer than 4,000 who are presently employed. The Liberal government suggests that politics have nothing to do with its decision to turn its back on our shipbuilding industry. I suppose this goes with what my colleague from Lévis said.
Those who are speaking to shipbuilding seem to be from the opposition. I wonder if the government's lack of interest in a shipbuilding policy for eastern Canada is due to the fact that not many Liberals were elected there, especially in Nova Scotia where none were elected. Perhaps that has an impact on the Liberal lack of interest in shipbuilding policy.
Perhaps the government is turning its back on our fishing industry and therefore does not see the necessity of having a shipbuilding policy. Fishing is still a viable option in West Nova, and for that matter in most of Atlantic Canada. We have some of the richest grounds in the world just off the southern tip of Nova Scotia. Our lobster industry is by far the most lucrative.
There is still a need for shipbuilding services in our area. However, if the government continues to ignore the plight of those involved in the industry, our small family owned shipbuilding operations will not be able to compete with foreign competition.
Let us consider the family boat building operations in my riding such as A. F. Theriault and Sons. on Meteghan River, Camille D'eon's boat building in Middle West Pubnico and Doucette's boat building in Cape Ste. Mary's. What about David LeBlanc in Mavilette and Cape Ste. Mary's or Paul and Alain Pothier in St. Martin? These are all small family run operations that have survived over the years because they have mastered their craft to a point where they have developed great reputations from within the fishing industry.
The PC Party wants partisanship to be taken out of this discussion so that all parties in the House can work toward developing a policy for shipbuilding that will help promote and put Canada on a level playing field so that we can compete with other countries that build ships.
The shipbuilding industry has proposed four measures which would immediately stimulate the shipbuilding industry. They include changes to leasing regulations, a refundable tax credit, and a pro-Canada provision of levelling the playing field, as I said earlier, without competitors.
With proper support from our federal government some of the family operations could legitimately expand their operations, creating countless numbers of new jobs for our struggling economy.
I have referred a lot to my riding of West Nova but a new shipbuilding policy is a pan-Canadian issue. Shipyards are located across Canada in B.C., Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, P.E.I. and Newfoundland.
Canadian shipyards have the capacity to directly employ over 10,000 Canadians. The economic benefits of $100 million worth of new shipbuilding business will create over 1,500 jobs in shipbuilding and allied businesses and generate over $23 million of income for the federal treasury. It is for these reasons that we believe there should be a comprehensive shipbuilding policy in Canada.
The P.C. Party of Canada wants the government to work in a non-partisan way with all parties of the House toward developing a comprehensive shipbuilding policy which will help promote a very important industry in our Canadian economy.
I encourage all members of the House to support this very important endeavour.