Jim Peterson

[Softwood Lumber, March 10th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member talked about the dispute resolution provisions of the NAFTA, chapter 19.

Everyone on this side of the House, including the Prime Minister, recognizes that we have to bring finality to these disputes under the NAFTA. All of us are working constructively with the United States in order to look at new ways to achieve that. This was agreed to at the highest level. We will continue to be constructive.

[Softwood Lumber, March 10th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I am totally incredulous that the hon. member talked about a major setback on the softwood lumber issue.

My goodness, just this week we were able to get the unanimous consent of all of the provinces and the three territories for an initial proposal on the softwood lumber dispute in order to bring it to a resolution. What is even better, preliminary indications from the U.S. are that this is constructive and could lead to a good outcome.

[Canada-U.S. Relations, March 10th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member talked about us going around the world and about what we are saying about the United States.

I will tell her what we are saying. We are saying that we are delighted to be working with them on the WTO in terms of trade liberalization and in terms of getting rid of those supports to agriculture in the EU and in the U.S. This is good for Canada.

We are happy to be going around the world talking about how we are going to help develop the Doha agenda, and that means bringing developing countries into the world trading relationship.

These are the positive things we talk about.

[Canada-U.S. Relations, March 10th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, let me say that in building a strong, positive relationship with the United States we are not going to do what the opposition does, which is to focus on every little negative aspect it can try to bring out. We are going to concentrate on what we have in common, that is, the security of North America, the world's largest trading relationship and the fact that 96% of that trading relationship is dispute free.

Why do the opposition members not join with us in emphasizing what Canada is all about?

[Canada-U.S. Relations, March 10th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, let me remind the House that Canada and the United States enjoy the largest trading relationship that the world has ever seen.

There are irritants that have arisen in our trading relationship in softwood lumber, BSE, wheat and live swine, but let me remind the House that 96% of our trade with the United States is dispute free and those of us on this side of the House are going to work to ensure that it is 100%.

[Canada-U.S. Relations, March 9th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, Canada and the United States enjoy today the largest trading relationship that this world has ever seen. In spite of very high profile disputes, such as softwood lumber, BSE, live swine, more than 95% of that trading relationship is dispute free and those of us on this side of the House will work to ensure that it is 100% dispute free.

[Softwood Lumber, March 9th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, as everyone knows, we had allocated over $350 million in aid to the industry.

Frankly, the hon. member is incorrect on several of the points he mentioned. Our proposal to the United States has received the support of every Canadian province and territory, for the first time.

[Canada-U.S. Relations, March 9th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the attention the hon. member is giving to the Canada-U.S. relationship because it is truly an important one. We realize that as a trading nation we have to pursue our commercial interests with the United States and with the rest of the world.

In this regard, I am very pleased that we are proceeding on the softwood lumber file, a file on which we have had a longstanding dispute for some 20 years, and that we have achieved a position for the territories and the provinces of Canada that has the potential for negotiating a settlement.

[Canadian Commercial Corporation, March 8th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I have asked my staff and I never received this letter. However, I must tell the House that we followed the process established by Treasury Board for the selection of new directors. A committee of directors made recommendations to me. This committee requested someone with experience in the CCC's new focus, meaning they needed engineers.

[Softwood Lumber, March 8th, 2005]

That is absolute nonsense, Mr. Speaker. We have put in that proposal a way of resolving disputes that is fast and efficacious. Let me go back to the member's earlier remarks. We have not capitulated. We are asking in that proposal, supported by 3 territories and 10 provinces, for return of 100% of the deposits.