It is a very simple answer, Mr. Speaker. NAFTA must be respected. The NAFTA appeal court, the ECC, has spoken. We want those rulings to be implemented.
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Softwood Lumber October 24th, 2005
It is a very simple answer, Mr. Speaker. NAFTA must be respected. The NAFTA appeal court, the ECC, has spoken. We want those rulings to be implemented.
Softwood Lumber October 24th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, I really slipped on that one.
Having said that, the answer is very simple. We are seeking a long term durable resolution to bring stability to our workers, our communities and our industry. At the same time, we are saying that NAFTA must be respected. The ECC has spoken. We want these rulings to be implemented.
Softwood Lumber October 24th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, I will be very simple so the minister understands, so the member understands—
Softwood Lumber October 24th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, once again, the hon. member is right. We must always be very careful with our spending and so we will be.
Softwood Lumber October 24th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Industry has already announced that he was taking care of this matter and the issues concerning support for the communities, the industry and the workers. He will be making an announcement in the near future.
Softwood Lumber October 24th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is right. First, NAFTA has to be respected. Second, we are looking for a solution, one that will be long term and durable, to resolve this dispute.
Softwood Lumber October 24th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, if an agreement on softwood lumber were reached, this agreement would be in the best interest of Canadians.
Softwood Lumber October 24th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has said that the Prime Minister does not take this issue seriously. In every meeting that he has had with his American counterpart, the President, he has raised the softwood issue. In all the meetings my colleagues and I have had with our U.S. counterparts, we have raised the issue. I can assure the House that it will be raised with the Secretary of State during her visit.
Softwood Lumber October 24th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, I will repeat very simply that we have always said that we would favour a long term durable resolution to this issue and that we would be prepared at some point to sit down and negotiate this. The one thing that is not negotiable is the NAFTA. It must be respected.
Softwood Lumber October 24th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, as far as the current lumber dispute is concerned, we have always taken the position that the NAFTA has to be respected. The ECC has spoken as the court of final appeal. We have won. We want the deposits returned.
We also have said that we want a long term durable solution to this dispute, which has been going on since 1982, and that we would be prepared to look at ways in the future that would get long term stability for our workers, our communities and our industry.