Walt Lastewka

[Agriculture, May 7th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister of agriculture. The plum pox virus is a serious disease that infects stone fruit species including peaches, nectarines, plums and apricots. It has been a scourge on the Niagara area over the last year.

The plum pox virus has adversely affected the livelihoods of both producers and the nurseries in the region. Could the minister inform the House about what steps are being taken by Agriculture Canada to assist the Niagara region in overcoming the plum pox virus?

[The Economy, May 2nd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, at last month's meeting of the group of 20 finance ministers there was agreement reached on what has been termed the Montreal consensus, which seeks to better integrate social as well as economic objectives around the world.

Could the Minister of Finance tell the House what further efforts are being made to advance and reinforce the Montreal consensus?

[Nuclear Industry, April 25th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to recognize that Thursday, April 26 will mark the 15th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster.

Early that morning an explosion occurred in Reactor 4 of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. The release of radiation was almost a million times greater than the release at Three Mile Island. As a result of this accident, 125,000 people have died, 70,000 people have become disabled and tens of thousands of hectares of once fertile land are now barren.

In compliance with the memorandum of understanding that was signed in Ottawa in 1995, the Chernobyl facility was closed on December 15, 2000. In return, the signing countries provided much needed financial and technical support to the government of Ukraine. Canada's contribution of $50 million was used to fund the shelter implementation plan.

I know that the Canadian government will continue to support the recovery of the Chernobyl area and I ask that hon. members and all Canadians take a moment to remember all those affected by this disaster.

[Trade, March 16th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister for International Trade. It concerns the sale of ice wine to the member countries of the European Union.

Since 1989 Canada has been struggling to gain access to European Union markets for its flagship wine. Canada has been impeded by a ruling which prevented importation of wines exceeding 15% potential alcohol without special permission from the union.

Could the minister inform the House what changes have taken place that will allow ice wines to be sold in the European Union, and could we expect changes in the exporting of VQA wines to Europe?

[Robert S. K. Welch, September 19th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I am saddened but honoured today to pay tribute to a great individual who passed away this summer, Dr. Robert S. K. Welch.

It is difficult to put into words the tremendous achievements of such a respected and accomplished person. Dr. Welch was an educator of our youth, a political leader, a well respected member of his community and loved husband, father and grandfather.

Dr. Welch had a long history of public service and deep roots within the Niagara community. Over the years he held the posts of chancellor of Brock University, Ontario minister of education, deputy premier of Ontario and an officer of the Order of Canada that he received in 1994.

Robert Welch was a loved and respected man whose work and dedication will be missed. I extend my condolences to his children Robert, Beth Kerley and Mary-Jayne Mete, and to his four grandchildren.

The memory of Robert S. K. Welch will remain in our hearts and minds and in many manifestations of his life of dedication to home and community.

[Committees Of The House, June 8th, 2000]

Madam Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the sixth report of the Standing Committee on Industry in relation to Bill C-5, an act to establish the Canadian Tourism Commission. The committee reports the bill without amendment.

[Paul Atkinson, June 7th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I have the privilege and pleasure today to honour a young Canadian entrepreneur who is making a difference in the world of high technology.

Mr. Paul Atkinson is a local St. Catharines boy who, at the age of 35, has just sold Solect Technology Group Inc. for $1.15 billion, making it the largest acquisition of a technology related private company in Canadian history.

Paul Atkinson has become a local hero and respected entrepreneur in a region where economic success has been achieved by utilizing our human capital: the dedicated business people, entrepreneurs, educators, investors and government officials who work together to make things happen.

These same people got together last week to honour Paul Atkinson and to launch the Atkinson Centre for Entrepreneurship. The centre will be chaired by Mr. Atkinson and will focus on enhancing opportunities for e-commerce and Internet centred businesses. It will be a major boost for high tech and e-commerce entrepreneurs in Niagara, and a welcome addition to our small business infrastructure.

Congratulations to Paul Atkinson on his successes to date and on the continuation of his work and dedication.

[Division No. 1351, June 6th, 2000]

Madam Speaker, I am pleased this evening to have the opportunity to call on the Minister for International Trade to take action on the market access to Canadian wines.

Canada has been proactive on export issues. We work one on one with Canadian businesses through team Canada trade missions. We actively participate in world trade issues and we provide financial and other support for businesses. The results have been positive with a record $410 billion trade surplus last year. Not only was that a record but it was an 11.3% increase over the year before.

While we have had overall success with exports we have not experienced the same success with wine exports. We have serious market access problems with trade imbalances. At a time when Canadian wines are winning international awards and being enjoyed by wine lovers the world over, we have some serious export shortfalls. Let me be more specific.

In 1999 Canada imported more than $565 million worth of wine from Europe. At the same time Canada's exports to the European market were just over $400,000.

We are allowing a huge amount of EU wines into Canada. In fact the LCBO in Ontario is the world's largest export market for French wines. Unfortunately we are not getting equal access to their markets. We have a huge trade imbalance of over one million to one. That is unacceptable.

Let us look at another example. In 1992 the GATT panel ruled against the United States on its anti-importation barriers for wine. The panel said that the U.S. discriminated against imports at both the federal and state levels.

Today most of these barriers still exist. A recent report from foreign affairs and international trade says that there are new trade distorting measures affecting Canadian exports that have been added by American states since the GATT panel ruling of eight years ago, all of this while Canada remains the largest export market for American wine. This is not a record we can take pride in.

At a time when exports are high, our trade surplus is larger than ever. Canadian wineries are making excellent products. We have been unable to break into two of the most important markets, the United States and the EU.

This debate is about helping businesses to succeed. It is about providing Canadian entrepreneurs, farmers and business people with the best possible chance for success, and that means access to markets, increased exports and jobs.

Canada's wine industry is a growing, thriving success. Canadian wineries have outdone themselves in creating excellent products in a very short amount of time. Our industry is new but it is excelling. This growth has happened without the huge subsidization which occurs in Europe and even in the United States. Now we need to give our wine industry the chance to grow and export around the world.

Earlier this year a vintner's enterprise study was completed on the wine industry in Niagara called “Jazzin' in the Vineyard”. I would like to summarize my remarks with a quote from that study. It says:

If the wine industry is to become internationally competitive, it needs a level playing field in which to participate.

I think that sums it up nicely. I urge the Minister for International Trade to give this issue his full attention and make it a number one priority.

[Committees Of The House, May 29th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Industry. The committee has considered the votes under industry in the main estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2001, and reports the same.

[Sports, May 2nd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, a month ago the Secretary of State for Amateur Sport announced some additional funding for Canadian athletes. Could the secretary of state update us on what he is doing to help national coaches in our sports federations?