Debates of Dec. 7th, 2021

Supplementary Estimates (B), 2021-22

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

Madam Chair, six years is a long time. If it is a priority, why has the government not got to it sooner? The minister is talking about getting to it. When is she going to actually do it?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Madam Chair, my colleague should celebrate that it is in the Speech from the Throne. It will be part of my mandate. We will be working to ensure that we assert our sovereignty. We also recently bought six ice breakers—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

Madam Chair, in an interview, a senior Canadian Armed Forces officer, who asked to remain anonymous, said that the changes were long overdue. The significance of this announcement is just another example of Canada's irrelevance internationally.

Does the minister think we are irrelevant internationally?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Madam Chair, of course not.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

Madam Chair, what is the minister going to do to make Canada relevant again in the Arctic?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Madam Chair, first and foremost, we will ensure that we assert our sovereignty in different ways by engaging with our partners, by raising it with multilateral organizations and by ensuring also that we have—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

Madam Chair, we have heard a lot of words from the minister. We have not heard once about whether she has actually shown up in the Arctic and asserted our sovereignty as a minister.

When will she do that? I think all Canadians are expecting her to do it soon.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Madam Chair, for sure I will be going to the Arctic. I look forward to it. Harper did, indeed, go to the Arctic, but our Prime Minister did also. It is a long-standing policy that we recognize Arctic sovereignty. This is our part of the world and we will—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

Resuming debate, the hon. member for Calgary Nose Hill.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Madam Chair, does the minister intend on announcing retaliatory measures against the American government regarding the softwood lumber dispute?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Madam Chair, my colleague, the Minister of International Trade, went to Washington last week for an important mission. There were colleagues from the other side of the aisle present with her.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Madam Chair, the finance minister said that she would be announcing retaliatory measures against the American government regarding the softwood lumber dispute.

Does the Minister of Foreign Affairs intend on announcing these retaliatory measures in short order?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Madam Chair, we will vigorously defend the interests of Canada when it comes to softwood lumber. Coming from Quebec, I am very much aware that it is important to defend these jobs in this very important sector, and that is why we also—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Madam Chair, on behalf of the people of Quebec, will the minister announce retaliatory measures against the American government regarding the softwood lumber dispute?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Madam Chair, I will ensure, along with my colleague, the Minister of International Trade, that we raise this issue through chapter 10 of CUSMA, which is the chapter that—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Madam Chair, is the answer “no” when I am asking will the minister announce retaliatory measures against the American government regarding the softwood lumber dispute?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Madam Chair, my colleague must know that we will raise it under chapter 10 of CUSMA and also through the WTO.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Madam Chair, when will the minister raise retaliatory measures under chapter 10 of CUSMA regarding the softwood lumber dispute?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Madam Chair, we need to have a team Canada approach. I hope my colleague from Calgary Nose Hill will support us.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Madam Chair, I love Americans. There is an American in this room tonight whom I love very much.

I would still like the minister to tell the Canadian people when she intends to announce retaliatory measures against the American government regarding the softwood lumber dispute?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Madam Chair, we will work with the industry, with workers and with unions, because it is important that we defend the jobs in the softwood lumber sector.