Mr. Speaker, history teaches us that protectionism can spread like a cancer. It can turn a severe recession into a depression.
This government has failed to fight protectionism in general and to defend Canada against the protectionist threats coming from the U.S. Congress.
Rather than have our ambassador write a letter to U.S. senators after the offending provisions had passed through the House, the government should have been actively lobbying Congress before the deed was done. It failed to understand that it is easier to nip these things in the bud than to stop protectionist measures that have already built up a head of steam.
The government has been blindsided and asleep at the switch. Why, at this time of economic crisis, did this Conservative government not stand up for Canadian jobs?