Debates of Feb. 5th, 2009

Opposition Motion--Canada-United States Relations

[Gerald Keddy, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margaret's, NS]

Madam Speaker, I absolutely agree that increased protectionism would imperil Canadian jobs, it would imperil American jobs at the end of the day, and it would have widespread repercussions. This is the proverbial paddle in the pool and the ripples that extend out from that would be never-ending.

I agree with the hon. member's opening statement that we have to send and we are sending a very consistent message in our contacts through business, through academia, through diplomacy, and through member-to-member with our friends and colleagues. We cannot afford to stray from that message, nor do we intend to stray from that message.

I will go back to my original statement that Canada is the beneficiary of rules-based trading. We know that our American colleagues and counterparts can be difficult to trade with at times. We have all been there. We have been through it with softwood lumber. We have seen embargos and tariffs. We understand that. NAFTA helped us to a degree to move away from that, but it never insulates us from that. Any country under WTO can bring in anti-dumping charges. Any country can bring in other charges under international trade. The important part is that we have rules-based trading. Those rules are fair and open to all and they do not benefit one nation over another.

[Todd Russell, Liberal, Labrador, NL]

Madam Speaker, I will be sharing my time this afternoon with the wonderful, outspoken and generous member for Malpeque, affectionately known as the “Malpequer” by many of our colleagues. I also want to thank the member for Kings—Hants for bringing forward this important motion and making it a subject of debate here in the House and across the country.

The motion itself, if ordinary Canadians read it, might seem technical, but for ordinary Canadians or ordinary Labradorians who are involved in industries impacted by the legislation or the economic stimulus package in the United States, it is about their jobs, it is about how they are going to pay their bills. While it may seem technical to them, it hits home for many people.

Our trading relationship with the United States is very important and it has to be based on mutual respect and on the rules. The riding of Labrador has a very direct role in the Canadian and international iron and steel industry. Our iron ore industry has a longstanding close relationship with Canadian and American steel industries, having been developed by North American steel makers in the 1950s and 1960s.

Iron ore production in Labrador in 2008 was estimated at $2.5 billion, no small chunk of change. We have two of the three most important iron ore producers in Canada, those being Wabush Mines, the Iron Ore Company of Canada and the other being Quebec Cartier, neighbouring us in northern Quebec out of Fermont.

We also have a number of new iron ore projects in the advanced exploration at the pre-development stage. I will mention just a couple, those with the New Millennium group and the ironsands project. Up until a few years ago, iron ore represented over 90% of the mineral production in the entire province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and that was before Voisey's Bay nickel came on stream.

Labrador now represents 98% of the mining industry in our province. Nickel production at Voisey's Bay last year is estimated at $2.2 billion, with over half a billion dollars more in related copper and cobalt production from the same mine. Nickel of course is a component in many types of steel as well as iron ore. Among the three operating mines in Labrador, Wabush, the Iron Ore Company of Canada and Voisey's Bay, they account for nearly 10% of the value of all Canadian mining in 2006.

In the past several years they have generated tens and even hundreds of millions of dollars in royalties which are paid to the provincial government. In certain instances a share of those revenues are transferred to the Nunatsiavut government, the Labrador Inuit self-governing body, and the Innu nation representing the Innu people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

It is not hard to see from these facts that the economy of my riding of Labrador is very closely tied in with the Canadian international iron and steel industries. We have a direct interest in the domestic and international policies and politics that have an impact on this vital sector.

Along with many other Canadians I was fascinated to watch the recent American election unfold and to see President Obama inaugurated just a few weeks ago. When the American stimulus package was drawn up, it included the problematic buy American clause. I and many in my riding were immediately concerned about the impact on the industries that were situated there which our economy was dependent upon.

It seems that many on this side of the aisle and indeed throughout Canada, the U.S. and around the world share that concern. In the past few days and hours the president has signalled that he is open to measures to avert what could be an unfortunate international trade dispute, not just with Canada, but with other countries.

It is unfortunate that the Conservative government seems to have been caught off guard, flat-footed and, in some respects, dumbfounded by some of the protectionist developments south of the border. It seems to have no strategy and no comprehensive response, just a shotgun reaction.

While the mine industry in Labrador has had boom times, in the past few months we have seen our share of trouble and there is more on the horizon. In western Labrador, we have already seen a number of projects deferred or cancelled, the announcement of 160 layoffs at Wabush Mines and scheduled shutdowns that will contribute to the hurt. In northern Labrador, Voisey's Bay has scheduled a summer shutdown this year as well.

Our mine operators and especially mining employees are watching the global economic situation. They are keenly aware of the impact of the world situation on their jobs, their lives and their communities.

In Labrador, just like the rest of the country, my people watched as the Conservative government denied the economic downturn, then ignored it, then delayed a response and now has brought forward a haphazard stimulus package.

Canada needs to stand firm in ensuring that protectionist measures do not exasperate the stresses that our people now face in the metal producing industry. Workers in my riding need assurances that the Conservative government will fight for their interests now and in the months and years to come.

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Madam Speaker, I agree with the premise of the member's argument and obviously agree that the U.S. relationship is very important, which is why I made the argument in the run-up to the 2006 election when I was running as a candidate. I also made the point emphatically clear in the 2008 election. I have sat with members, like the members for Yellowhead, Edmonton—Leduc, Saskatoon—Humboldt, Leeds—Grenville and members from across the aisle, like the member for Malpeque and the member for York West. I have sat with these members and we have made these points to our American counterparts, Democratic counterparts, like Democratic Congressman Overstar, Democratic Congresswoman, Marcy Kaptur and Democratic Congresswoman Slaughter. We have built these relationships.

As well, I have had personal conversations with the President of the National Governor's Association, Democratic Governor Ed Rendell. We have built this relationship. We are working in a comprehensive fashion. Its a full corps press by the Canadian government. We have not been caught off guard, nor did we fail to act when it came to economics. We were the first government to act and we have seen governments around the world respond in kind since this government took action in November 2007.

I think that we have been acting--

[The Acting Speaker, NDP, Denise Savoie]

I would like to give the opportunity to the hon. member for Labrador to respond.

[Todd Russell, Liberal, Labrador, NL]

Madam Speaker, I did not hear a question but Canadians have been watching for months now. The Conservative government has not instilled a lot of confidence in Canadians that it knows how to handle our economy. The government denied that there was an economic crisis in Canada, ignored that there was an economic crisis in Canada and delayed a response. As I have said, it brought in a haphazard stimulus package. That is what has been said in the country and that is what Canadians have observed.

If we do not have much confidence that the government can handle our own economy, there is not a lot of confidence that it can handle situations when it comes to the international economy and international relationships.

What we have observed is a flat-footedness when it comes to the Canadian stimulus package. We observe that when we see the government reacting. It was not proactivity that we saw on the part of the government. It reacted to what came at it from out of the blue from our American counterparts.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Madam Speaker, the member, in this Parliament, has shown that when the Liberal caucus takes a misinformed stand that he is able to distance himself from that misinformed stand.

We heard earlier today from the member for Toronto Centre that the Liberal caucus opposes any sort of managed trade settlement, such as what the United Steelworkers are proposing on iron and steel. We also heard from the member for Toronto Centre that a buy Canada act would be illegal. Therefore, it appears that the Liberal caucus opposes that measure as well.

Would the member be inclined to take that same kind of independent stand on these issues that he took on the budget, stand up and say that the Liberal caucus is wrong in opposing a managed trade settlement with iron and steel in the buy America provisions and wrong to say that buy Canada is illegal?

[Todd Russell, Liberal, Labrador, NL]

Madam Speaker, what I will not support is the position of the NDP, where it wants to put up walls, walls between our provinces and between our countries. It wants to put up a wall between the United States and Canada which will cost Canadian jobs and American jobs. It will hurt the people in my riding of Labrador who depend upon the specific industries that we are talking about, the iron ore, steel and nickel industries. I will not support that.

There was a president at one time, in a different context, who said, “Tear down those walls”. I would say to the NDP that it needs to start tearing down some of its walls on its own ideology that hurts Canadians.

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to speak to the motion from the member for Kings—Hants but, given my voice today, I will do an unusual thing. I will speak slow and low and hope my voice lasts the 10 minutes.

The motion really calls upon the government to intervene forthwith and persistently with the United States administration and the congress in order to protect Canadian jobs. Simply put, what the motion really means to those opposite is that the Conservative government must wake up. The U.S. is becoming more protectionist and the government needs to be on top of this file. It needs to stand up for Canadians, not be asleep at the switch.

This motion has become necessary simply because the United States, at the height of a global downturn, is looking inward and is becoming more protectionist. We saw back in the dirty thirties what happens when we have an economic downturn, or did not see, as my hon. colleague is laughing over there, or read about it in a history book. We know history and when we add an economic downturn and protectionist policies that basically seize up trading relationships between nations, then that makes matters even worse for all countries globally involved.

Therefore, on the one hand, we have the U.S. becoming more protectionist, and on the other, the fact that the Conservative government seems to be asleep at the switch. Worse than that, the government record on this issue has been very poor. We know where it was on the softwood lumber dispute where the U.S. basically took the government to the cleaners. Canadians who work in the forestry industry and in the lumber plants, whether it is eastern Canada or western Canada, have suffered ever since.

Canada is a trading nation. In fact, we are more dependent on trade than almost any other nation in the world and we are very dependent on the United States market. I see the Minister of Agriculture is here and he will know that no industry is more dependent upon that trade than the agricultural industry, for which I am agriculture critic for the official opposition.

Sixty per cent of our hogs are exported, not all of them to the United States but we are greatly dependent on that market. Fifty per cent of our beef is exported and an even higher percentage of wheat, but the wheat industry is not as dependent on the United States market as it is around the rest of the world.

Trade is extremely important. Yes, we need to expand our relationships around the world. In fact, I believe the minister made an announcement the other day in opening up an additional market for beef, and that is good, but the fact is that the U.S. is our closest trading partner. It is our neighbour and our friend most times and we will always be extremely dependent upon that market, and that cuts both ways. Both countries gain extensively from that trading relationship.

Farmers, though, perhaps more than most, can tell us the impact upon their livelihoods when all of a sudden the United States uses whatever levers or excuse it has and becomes protectionist. No industry, bar none, was as integrated as the Canada and United States livestock industries, up until five or six years ago when we exported feeders to the United States and brought up slaughter cattle from the U.S., but then we had a situation where we had one cow with a case of BSE and immediately the border was closed.

As a result of that border closing, in what I believe were protectionist measures taken by the cattle industry in the United States and supported by congress and the senate, cattle farmers in Canada today are still suffering even though the border is now open. Billions of dollars have been lost. As a result, the previous government and the present government had to pump considerable millions of dollars into the industry to support it in its time of need. Those are the consequences.We have seen first-hand in the cattle industry the consequences of measures taken that will bring in protectionist measures and isolate certain industries from trading relationships.

We know very well that congress and the senate especially can be very protectionist and the government opposite should know that. However, the government seemed to be caught off guard, just like it was on the economy. We heard stories during the election that this country would not see a deficit next year. Now we know differently. Instead of being on the ball and paying attention to what was happening in the U.S., it seems to have been caught off guard as the U.S. Congress and Senate take more and more protectionist measures.

The purpose of this motion today is to push the Government of Canada to be more accountable, to take aggressive action with the United States, to send delegations to the United States from the ministerial level and to be on top of its counterparts in pushing the issue of good, open trade relationships between the two countries.

When Ron Kirk was put forward as the United States' trade representative, he was quoted in a Reuters news service report saying:

The United States cannot afford to turn its back on trade as it tries to dig its way out of a deep recession, President-elect Barack Obama's choice to be U.S. trade representative said on Sunday.

He went on to say, talking to mayors:

But I also know there are mayors in this room that represent communities that feel very differently about that, and part of our challenge as we go forward is to make sure we have a trade policy that basically makes sense to the American public.

Mr. Kirk has pointed out very clearly the consequences of the United States becoming more protectionist. It would drive the recession even further. His second point is that, yes, there are mayors, communities, congressmen and senators who feel differently about that, and that is where our government needs to be on the ball. It needs to be on the ball talking to people at the congressional level, senate level and administration level to enforce the point of how valuable that trading relationship is to both our countries.

I am a member of the Canada-United States parliamentary association, as some members are on the other side. One of our members, a co-chair, Senator Grafstein, has been to the United States several times in the last few weeks. In my view, he, as one senator, has been more aggressively pushing the fact and informing Americans on how serious these trade protectionist measures they are taking could be. I ask the government to catch up to the senator in terms of being aggressive and protecting Canadian interests, building understanding in the United States that this trade relationship is important to both our countries and pushing them to cease and desist on the protectionist measures that will undermine both our economies and livelihoods into the future.

I am pleased to support the motion put forward by the member for Kings—Hants. It basically tells the government to aggressively pursue the U.S. administration to cease and desist on the protectionist measures it is proposing through its stimulus package.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Wetaskiwin, AB]

Madam Speaker, I appreciate the position of the member's party. However, I would like to set the record straight on a few of the issues.

It was our party, while in opposition in 2003, when the BSE crisis was affecting beef producers in my constituency, that applied for intervenor status to go down to the states and challenge R-CALF. It was not the Liberal government of the day. It left beef producers hanging by a thread.

This government has certainly challenged R-CALF's next venture, which is the country of origin labelling, and has set the record straight, before the final ruling comes before the American people and the American government, to get Canadian exports of beef back into the United States and protect beef farmers. It has been because of the great work of our Minister of Agriculture and our international trade minister.

Under 13 years of Liberal government, not one free trade agreement was signed anywhere for market access. Because of this government, through the European Free Trade Association, and we had the bill before the House, which will be passed, exports are going to China and South America. We have engaged the South American and the Caribbean community again. This government is getting it done.

Is his party going to continue to support us when we move those kinds of bills—

[The Acting Speaker, NDP, Denise Savoie]

Order, please. The hon. member for Malpeque.

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Madam Speaker, there is not enough time for me to re-set the record straight after the remarks by the member.

The fact is the previous government was there for the livestock industry, putting out millions of dollars. The current government has basically failed in that.

The member also mentioned China. I have to admit I have been to China and talked to some of the Chinese trading agencies. The Conservative government has really jeopardized our trading relationship with China by its attitude toward China in the public arena.

However, the bottom line today, in terms of this motion, is for the government, and the hon. member should recognize that, to wake up and challenge the Americans aggressively on the stimulus package that would in fact bring in protectionist measures. It has been asleep at the switch.

The whole purpose of this motion is to try to bring accountability to the Government of Canada and have it understand how very important jobs are, whether they are in my province of Prince Edward Island, or in the auto industry in Ontario or in the forestry industry in B.C. It is important for the government to stand up and challenge the U.S. at the congressional, the senate and the administrative level, and the government has not been aggressive enough in doing that.

[Serge Cardin, Bloc, Sherbrooke, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would first like to congratulate my colleague, the international trade critic for the Liberal Party. I had wondered why the Liberals were going ahead with their motion, because Mr. Obama had announced that the United States would comply with WTO rules and international standards. But I soon realized that the motion was still relevant because it says that “this House calls upon the Government to intervene forthwith and persistently” and urge the United States to respect the trade agreements between it and Canada, the North American Free Trade Agreement and the World Trade Organization. The Liberals realized that Canada might have to go to court, whereas now we can take diplomatic action. We saw this in the softwood lumber sector. The Liberal and Conservative governments went through that. Time is of the essence, and the government must take strong action.

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is correct. What he has said is that we must act now, meaning the government must take the initiative.

As I said, it is a pretty sad commentary on the government when the co-chair of the Canada-U.S. Parliamentary Association, on his own practically, has done more and met with more congressmen, senators and people in the United States, in terms of fighting Canada's cause, than has the government. It is time for the government to wake up, smell the roses and fight for the interests of Canadians to keep this trade relationship open, and cease and desist on American protectionism.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Order. We will resume debate later.

Auditor General of Canada

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

I have the honour to lay upon the table the report of the Auditor General of Canada dated December 2008.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(g), this document is deemed to have been permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.

Environment and Sustainable Development

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

I have the honour to lay upon the table, pursuant to subsection 23(3) of the Auditor General Act, the Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development to the House of Commons dated December 2008 with an addendum on environmental petitions received between January 5, 2008 and June 30, 2008.

This document is deemed to have been permanently referred to the Standing Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development.

Canadian Forces

[Ed Holder, Conservative, London West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on January 19, 2009 Londoner, Private Andrew Knisley of the Royal Canadian Regiment, was seriously wounded in Afghanistan. Private Knisley is now back in Canada and recovering with the unwavering support of his father Ken, his mother Heather, his sister Ruth, his friends and his military family.

We appreciate and admire those who risk their lives and their health in defence of Canada and the values we represent.

Private Knisley is one of many seriously injured soldiers. Their sacrifice is a daily struggle and they deserve our unqualified support. They exemplify the brave Canadian soldier who heads to foreign lands to improve the lives of complete strangers.

Unfortunately, like those he helped, Private Knisley will wear the scars of war for the rest of his life.

Soldiers do not quit. They face adversity and use it to focus on what matters. It is who they are.

We wish Private Knisley a quick recovery. We admire the brave soldiers who serve our country abroad.

May God bless Andrew. He has this Canadian's sincerest gratitude.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

[Mario Silva, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Mr. Speaker, since 1996 war has raged almost continuously in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. With the official cessation of violence in 2002, fighting has still been a recurring and terrible facet of life in this region.

As is always the case, war takes an especially terrible toll on the innocent. Since the beginning of August of last year, some 250,000 people have been displaced, not to mention the countless murders and kidnappings, as well as reports of torture. Violence against women is especially prevalent in this war zone.

On June 19, 2008 the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed a resolution declaring rape as a weapon of war and a threat to international security, yet the violence against women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues.

I urge all members of the House and all Canadians alike to condemn the systematic use of rape as a weapon and support the Congolese women's campaign against sexual violence by signing the online petition at www.drcsexualviolence.org

Nad Klima

[Serge Cardin, Bloc, Sherbrooke, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this past Friday I was thrilled to attend the opening of a company in Sherbrooke, Nad Klima. Nad Klima is the outcome of an alliance between German technology and Sherbrooke know-how and has already carved a place for itself as a leader among air conditioning, heating and ventilation companies. Their innovative high induction air diffusers provide an unequalled level of comfort coupled with substantial energy savings.

The opening of this new plant will create 50 direct jobs and another 50 indirect ones for Sherbrooke. Fortunately, unlike the Conservative government, there are business leaders who grasp the idea that the words economy and Kyoto go together to ensure sustainable economic development.

My best wishes to Daniel Lauzon, president of Nad Klima, and to everyone on his team.

Gordon Bell High School

[Pat Martin, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the wonderful students of Gordon Bell High School in Winnipeg are in a David and Goliath struggle with Canada Post so that these inner city kids can have a playing field and sports teams which other high schools take for granted.

Anybody will tell us that inner city youth need more sports and recreation opportunities. We want these kids to join sports teams, not gangs.

On behalf of the students of Gordon Bell High School, we call on Canada Post to let us buy the land next to Gordon Bell High School to give those students the options for sports and recreation that other kids have. Canada Post has lots of other options to build its letter carrier depot. The kids at Gordon Bell High School have only one option if they ever want a playing field and a green space for their sports teams.

Post-Secondary Institutions

[Rod Bruinooge, Conservative, Winnipeg South, MB]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's universities are vital to our shared success. They advance our country through research and training of skilled workers. That is why Canada's economic action plan invests $2 billion to support expansion projects, maintenance and construction at colleges and universities across Canada. This will enhance the research capacity of our universities, enable them to attract students and help them provide a better educational experience.

My riding of Winnipeg South is home to the University of Manitoba and Winnipeg Technical College, and I believe strongly in the value of these institutions. That is why I and others founded the Conservative post-secondary education caucus. I hosted the inaugural meeting yesterday and was very pleased to see how many of my colleagues shared this commitment. This new caucus will focus on how our government and we as MPs can best serve post-secondary institutions.

Colleges and universities are vital to our communities and our country, and I am proud to be a member of our government whose commitment to support them is clear.

Robert Dufour

[Jean-Claude D'Amours, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a few moments to pay tribute to a hero from my region. Mr. Robert Dufour saved the lives of two neighbours in their seventies when their house caught fire on January 26.

Robert Dufour had been out bowling and had not been home long when he saw flames emerging from the house of his neighbours, Hector and Marina Beaulieu. Stopping only long enough to pull on his boots, he ran next door. Despite the minus 40 degree temperature and the thick smoke, Mr. Dufour risked his life to save his neighbours. His example of courage and selflessness in rescuing them from danger should serve as an example to us all.

I encourage all the members here, as well as the people of Madawaska—Restigouche, to congratulate Mr. Dufour for this courageous act. He risked his own life to save others.

Fred Meilleur

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is with sadness that I rise today to pay respects to Fred Meilleur, an Ottawa Valley icon. For 62 years, Fred was the owner and operator of the Chapeau Hotel and Fred's Steak House, which anyone growing up in the Ottawa Valley knew simply as Fred's.

Fred was known for his hospitality, his steak dinners and a photographic memory. That memory extended beyond a person to all of the person's family. It was not unusual to walk into Fred's on a Saturday afternoon and find a couple of the old lads singing the old songs over endless beers and coke glasses full of white wine. People would drive from all over for his steak dinners and his mouth-watering desserts, like butterscotch pie and lemon meringue pie.

If Fred found out it was a person's first visit to his steak house, he would ask if that person would like to see the legendary tail of the silver beaver. Fred would walk that person around the hotel and eventually would walk inside the cooler where there was a nickel sitting on the counter.

Fred represents the passing of a generation. May Fred go in peace.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

[Johanne Deschamps, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to share with the members of this House the story of a touching encounter that I had on January 28 with a group of Congolese refugees who are living in Quebec. They braved the wind and snow to speak with me about their worries regarding the human tragedy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

It is inconceivable and unthinkable to let tens of thousands of women and children needlessly suffer and die in this conflict where they are the main victims. A woman from this group told us about the horror and terror that she suffered in her home country. This group is desperately seeking a solution to this crisis, which, according to a number of experts, has already left six million people dead.

I want to reiterate the Bloc's support for the work this group is doing to find peace for the DRC. I would invite all of my colleagues who are interested in and touched by the situation to pressure the Conservative government to help these people restore justice and peace to their country.

Sri Lanka

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call on the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to declare and honour an immediate ceasefire of hostilities. They must allow a full, safe and unhindered access for the evacuation of the sick and the wounded, and the delivery of much-needed humanitarian assistance to civilians. I support the actions of our foreign affairs minister who is delivering new aid and has made strong calls for a ceasefire.

There is no military solution to this conflict. All efforts must be made to avoid civilian casualties. Only a durable political solution can bring peace to the people of Sri Lanka. That is why I am calling on both the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to renounce violence, lay down their arms and usher in a new era of peace.