Madam Speaker, certainly we are the largest trading partner of the Americans. About 85% of our trade goes to the United States. One should not forget that we are also their largest trading partner. Canada is more important to the United States than all of the European Community put together roughly. The Americans depend on us a lot in terms of their trade as well. We are the principal trading partners of each other. The percentage is greater from our country because we are smaller. We should not forget that we are the most important trading partner of the United States of America.
The Alliance tends to think that we cannot stand up for our own rights. A little while ago that party said that the U.S. ambassador should be given ministerial status. Never before have I heard anybody suggest that the ambassador of the United States be made a minister in cabinet. Do we have to bend over backwards for everything the Americans want? The Americans have not even asked for that.
That party across the way has been talking about getting rid of the Canadian Wheat Board because the Americans do not like it. When the Americans say jump, those members always ask how high. What we see across the way on your left, Mr. Speaker, is republican party north. That is what the Alliance is.
What about George Bush and the war in Iraq? The Alliance wanted us in there fast. Thank goodness the majority of people in the House said no, that we would not send troops into Iraq. George Bush said that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. Who believed him right away? The Alliance Party. Those weapons of mass destruction have not been found.
We need parties that stand up for Canada and for Canadians. We need parties in this country that will not kowtow to everything that a right-wing Republican in the United States wants. George W. Bush is losing the confidence of his people but he still has the confidence of the Alliance. Shame on the Alliance.