Debates of Feb. 25th, 2002

Softwood Lumber

[Alexa McDonough, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, it may have created 850 jobs in Canada but why would it not have created more jobs in Canada? Surely the whole point of EDC is to support the export of Canadian products, not the export of Canadian jobs.

At least one company has confirmed that it could have handled the locomotives contract and hired hundreds of Canadian workers. It may be a bonanza for Bombardier but it is an insult to Canadians needing jobs.

Why are EDC funds being used to finance the flight of Canadian jobs to Mexico when they are desperately needed here in Canada?

[Pierre Pettigrew, Liberal, Minister for International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, the EDC supported the company that won the contract. EDC does not decide which company wins a contract in the United States. However EDC was in a position to help finance the purchaser of that contract because Bombardier had actually won the contract, which kept 850 jobs in Canada.

[Joe Clark, Progressive Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.

In just 25 days the U.S. commerce department will make a final determination on softwood lumber, a decision that could literally destroy Canadian companies and communities. The negotiation so far has not worked. It is becoming clear that the only American who can bring the U.S. lumber coalition to a reasonable position is President Bush.

The Prime Minister and the president have talked about softwood lumber before. Now they need to negotiate.

Before the Prime Minister leaves this continent again will he launch personal negotiations with President Bush to resolve the softwood lumber issue before time runs out?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I have talked with the president many times about the softwood lumber issue. He knows Canada's position very well. I have told him many times that the free trade agreement we signed with the Americans does not only apply to products such as natural gas and oil, but that it also applies to softwood lumber.

The leader of the fifth party should not take cheap shots. I have been on the road for 10 days and will be attending the Commonwealth meeting next week. I do not do this for pleasure but through duty.

[Joe Clark, Progressive Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, there is a duty to a number of Canadian communities that are suffering right now and talk by the Prime Minister is not enough. Negotiation could work.

The major obstacle now is the refusal of the American lumber coalition to respond seriously to the position put forward by the Canadian provinces. The American president could intervene to persuade the coalition to accept the Canadian position reasonably.

If the Prime Minister will not negotiate, given the failure of the minister and the failure of the others, what does he propose be done to protect Canadians whose livelihoods are now at stake? Why will he not negotiate--

[The Speaker]

The right hon. Prime Minister.

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the president is extremely aware of the problem. I have talked with him regularly and very forcefully. I am confident there will be a solution to the problem before the expiration date according to the American law.

Export Development Corporation

[Charlie Penson, Canadian Alliance, Peace River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, we have just learned that Export Development Corporation has lent billions of dollars of Canadian taxpayers' money at below market rates to Union Pacific Railroad of the United States. This is only the latest example of the Liberal government's corporate welfare policy to large U.S. companies. EDC subsidized Northwest Airlines' purchase of Canadian jets to the tune of billions of dollars just a year ago.

Why do taxpayers of Canada have to subsidize yet another large American company worth over $30 billion?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I hope that the hon. member will look at all the facts.

He is attacking EDC but he should tell the House of Commons and the Canadian people that EDC is helping Canadian companies to sell abroad. EDC is not losing money. EDC is making money and at the same time it is helping Canadian exporters.

[Charlie Penson, Canadian Alliance, Peace River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it is interesting that it took a question about Bombardier to bring the Prime Minister to his feet on this issue.

What is really strange about this EDC deal is that Bombardier's portion of the contract is being manufactured by Mexican facilities. It is obvious that EDC is totally out of control. Is this the Liberal industrial policy, corporate welfare for multimillion dollar American companies supplied by Mexican labour?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

No, Mr. Speaker, because I am very much interested in the welfare of the Canadian people. I want people to know that when there is a success in Canada, the Alliance Party always attacks any successful business people in Canada.

Highway Infrastructures

[Mario Laframboise, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, right now, we can identify three possible sources of funding to meet the Liberal promises made during the election campaign.

There is $108 million for Quebec's highways in the current Department of Transport budget; there is the approximately $600 million fund for border infrastructure throughout Canada, security being an issue we cannot ignore; and there is apparently—I use the word apparently deliberately—$2 billion for strategic infrastructure for Canada as a whole.

Will the Deputy Prime Minister admit that, right now, there is really only $108 million earmarked for the Liberals' highway construction promises? One hundred and eight million, period.

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, there is enough money for a large number of infrastructure projects, among them highways across the country, including Quebec.

[Mario Laframboise, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, will the Deputy Prime Minister confirm that the $600 million fund for border infrastructure can in no way be used for highways 30, 50, 175 and 185?

[John Manley, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Crown Corporations]

Mr. Speaker, the member is asking for very detailed information, but I can tell him that we have money for highways, we have money for borders, and we have money for strategic infrastructure.

We are not going to pay for all the highways in Quebec. The Province of Quebec has some responsibilities. We must talk with our provincial partners, as well as with other possible partners for investments in strategic infrastructure. There are many things to be done.

Terrorism

[Rahim Jaffer, Canadian Alliance, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, there were reports today that the murder of Daniel Pearl, The Wall Street Journal reporter who was brutally slain by his al-Qaeda captors, may have been planned or directed from Canada. One of the suspected murderers may have received his orders to kidnap and kill Pearl in calls made from Pakistan to Canada.

It seems that the government's post-September 11 efforts have been for nothing. How can the government repeatedly assure Canadians that terrorists are not operating from within this country when the killers of Daniel Pearl may have received their marching orders from the al-Qaeda masters here in Canada?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague certainly is well aware that I am not going to comment on any investigation.

He is also well aware that we have a very efficient RCMP and security intelligence agency. He is aware that they deal with their counterparts around the world. They will all make sure that these individuals who should be brought to justice will be brought to justice.

[Rahim Jaffer, Canadian Alliance, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the government has been warned repeatedly. Even CSIS has told the government that terrorist networks are operating within this country. The Ressam case made it clear that terrorists are operating here.

Last week we learned that the RCMP intelligence section was not even talking to its CSIS counterparts and has not been doing so the whole time the Liberal government has been in power. Now the murder of Daniel Pearl may have been planned or directed from this country.

How can the government possibly assure Canadians that it has not dropped the ball on the war against terror at home when it appears that the murder of Daniel Pearl may be tied to terrorists operating in Canada?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, it is a shame that my hon. colleague would use so much speculation. The fact is that what he has commented on is a report from CSIS and the RCMP that is two or three years old.

I met with the commissioner of the RCMP today. He indicated to me that CSIS and the RCMP co-operate very well. They also co-operate with other agencies around the world.

We are not in this place to play games. We are here to make sure that the safety of Canadians and citizens around the world is preserved and we will do that.

Highway Infrastructures

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, during the election campaign, the Liberals made a formal promise to Quebec of $3.5 billion for roads.

Today, the Deputy Prime Minister is refusing to respond in any way to our questions. The people of Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean, Montérégie, Bas-du-Fleuve and the Outaouais have had it up to here with the Liberal government's unkept promises.

How much money are they going to put on the table to make good their promises? That is what we want to know .

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the people of Lac-Saint-Jean and Chicoutimi have been promised for the last—

[An hon. member]

25 years.

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Saint-Maurice, QC]

—25 years, by the former member for Jonquière, that there would be roads. Now that they have a Liberal MP, there is hope.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker]

Order. The hon. member for Roberval.