Jim Peterson

[Softwood Lumber, November 17th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has raised the softwood lumber issue in every single meeting that he has had with the President. It is the Prime Minister who has so strongly said that the NAFTA must be respected. I will take a back seat to no one in terms of our Prime Minister standing up for our forest industry and for all our traders who go by the rule of law. The rule of law must be respected.

[Softwood Lumber, November 17th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, this is utter nonsense. The Prime Minister has been in the vanguard of saying that the NAFTA has to be respected and that the duties illegally taken by the United States have to be returned in total.

[Forest Industry, November 4th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, that is absolute nonsense. The Prime Minister has always said that the NAFTA has to be respected, and that means the return of all the duties.

[Softwood Lumber, November 3rd, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, we have always maintained that we are considering a plan to help the workers, communities and companies in the softwood lumber industry. There have been some heavy discussions, and our reaction and final decision will be forthcoming in the near future.

[Softwood Lumber, November 2nd, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, we have made it very clear that we are not going to negotiate when we have had a win at NAFTA. These were the Prime Minister's words.

NAFTA must be respected, which is why we are taking actions on a number of fronts, including retaliation, advocacy, litigation and finding new markets.

I am very grateful for the advice that I have had on an ongoing basis from Mr. Ritchie and Mr. Tellier. They will be available on a moment's notice when we need them.

[Softwood Lumber, October 27th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the answer is the same.

[Softwood Lumber, October 27th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, we have said two things.

First, we said that NAFTA had to be respected. Second, we have always said that we were seeking a long term and durable resolution to this dispute.

[Infrastructure, October 26th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for this very important question.

Let me assure him that the decision on how the funds we are providing to cities and municipalities across the country for infrastructure are spent is up to those municipalities and communities. They are not subject to any international rules with respect to government procurement. I am sure that those municipalities will make the best possible use of those moneys which we are spending in cooperation with them.

[Softwood Lumber, October 26th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, we know full well that the softwood lumber dispute is causing many problems for the communities. That is why we have already given them over $350 million in aid.

That being said, we promised to look into a few proposals and we are currently doing so. We will have more to report in the very near future.

[Softwood Lumber, October 26th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, it is very clear that we have been following this issue closely. We have had discussions and held consultations. As the Minister of Industry indicated, we are in the process of developing a program to help workers, communities and the industry.