Madam Speaker, the timing is perfect to talk about wine and spirits, since it is about time for a drink. I want to assure the House here that I did not have a drink before beginning my speech. My mind is always very clear when I am working. As we know, there used to be a bar in this place. I think hon. members know that. Perhaps that explains why some questionable bills were passed in this House. Be that as it may, this government is still passing questionable legislation, even though there is no longer a bar here.
Enough joking. I am pleased to address Bill S-38, an Act respecting the implementation of international trade commitments by Canada regarding spirit drinks of foreign countries. The Bloc Québécois supports the principle of this bill. There are several good reasons to pass this bill on the implementation of international agreements already signed by the European Community, the United States and Mexico, under NAFTA, and the Caribbean countries.
This bill is consistent with Quebec's policy on labelling and the recognition of local products. In Quebec, as we know, there is more and more emphasis on transparency and consumer choice. There is a great debate at the present time on new legislation regarding the designation of local products. In our view, in fact, the word “terroir” or local site should be protected. It should be a registered designation of origin that is used advisedly. That is what the debate is about because the Government of Quebec's bill was not satisfactory in the eyes of people in the farming sector.
However, it is a step forward. We hope that the debate will prove fruitful and people will succeed in getting adequate protection. My riding is involved, among other things, in a lot of fine cheese production. The French protect the trade names of their cheeses and we would like to do the same. When a product becomes more and more popular, there is a danger that it will be copied. A little earlier, the Conservative Party member mentioned certain scotches that had been copied. It is the same for all agri-food products.
That is why we need to push harder and harder both to protect our products and to inform consumers. These two reasons go hand in hand.
This bill will also enable consumers to choose wines and spirits in an informed way because they will know their real origin and nature. For example, Bill S-38 states that Scotch whiskey can be sold as such only if it was distilled in Scotland. That is only common sense, but it had to be written somewhere in a law. Armagnac and cognac come from France and can only be sold under these names if they have been produced in the regions of Armagnac and Cognac. It is the same for tequila, which is a product of Mexico, and bourbon, which is a product of the United States. These trade names must be protected in order to dissuade fraudsters and copiers, as I said earlier.
Television and the media often mention copiers or people who have produced knock-offs, especially in the area of fashion. Nowadays, products of any kind are copied, whether watches or food products. It is important, therefore, to ensure that products can be protected.
This agreement will help our exports on European markets—that is the good news because we also have an interest in being able to export our fine products there—while our internal measures are maintained, such as the ability of wineries to operate sales outlets that carry only our own products. This will not prevent us from doing what we need to do on our own territory.
The same thing applies to Quebec's requirement that all wines sold in grocery stores must be bottled in Quebec. We would never have let such a thing get by. If we notice a problem as we study a bill, I assure my colleagues that we will deal with it. I have said that we were in favour of the bill in principle, but we are just at the initial stage now. We will make sure that everything is in line with Quebec's requirements.
It is, I repeat, important for the consumer to be protected. There has been some talk of recognizing the specificities and peculiar characteristics of the various terroirs. Bill S-38 also suggests a clearer labelling policy.
Consumers are entitled to know exactly what they are buying and consuming. Quebec feels strongly about this. I am speaking of Quebec as a whole, the consumers, the producers and all the stakeholders who are concerned with this situation.
One need only think about the situation with dairy products. I will repeat what I have said many times: my region, the RCM of Arthabaska, has the highest number of dairy producers in Quebec. I am therefore very much aware of what is going on in that field.