Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) and 32(4), I would like to table in both official languages the first ever trade report “Trade Update 2000”, the annual report of Canada's state of trade.
Lost his last election, in 2011, with 25% of the vote.
Trade May 11th, 2000
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) and 32(4), I would like to table in both official languages the first ever trade report “Trade Update 2000”, the annual report of Canada's state of trade.
Division No. 1258 March 30th, 2000
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I wonder if the hon. member could tell us the relevance of this matter to the bill before the House. He is talking about a party convention that he, no doubt, was very pleased to attend, but what relevance does that have to the business which is before the House?
Export Development Corporation March 28th, 2000
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is a member of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade and he should know that the committee looked at all of these issues. They had over 40 Canadians representing groups from across this country look at the EDC. There was a consensus that the EDC was doing a good job across this country in terms of making sure that small and medium sized industries can compete internationally.
The Government of Canada believes that the EDC plays a very important role in this country.
Export Development Corporation March 28th, 2000
Mr. Speaker, clearly the Government of Canada, through the Minister for International Trade and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, is responsible for the crown corporation. They report to this parliament.
It is the Government of Canada which sends the message to the EDC and helps in terms of the export support it gives to medium and small enterprises.
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce said: “Export credit agencies like the EDC play a vital bridging role which lend the support companies need to break into foreign and high risk markets”.
The Government of Canada is sending that message.
Export Development Corporation March 28th, 2000
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member continues to talk about the Export Development Corporation like it is a corporation that does not do a good job in the country.
Let me quote from Malcolm Stephens, former head of the British equivalent of the EDC, who said “In my experience the facilities available to Canadian exporters are flexible and are administered with a professional expertise which few rivals in other countries have”.
This is a corporation that is needed by Canadian small business and medium sized enterprises to help them compete internationally with other—
Export Development Corporation March 28th, 2000
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should know that the Government of Canada looks vigorously at environmental situations in other countries. We take them very seriously. Before the EDC can give loans to corporations dealing with these other countries it has to go through rigorous standards.
The EDC has just gone through a review by not only the House of Commons standing committee but also an independent group, Gowlings, which gave messages of endorsement in terms of what the EDC does and in terms of keeping Canadian environmental standards in other countries.
Export Development Corporation March 28th, 2000
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member from the Reform Party, the united alternative, the Canadian reform alliance party or one of those parties should know—
Export Development Corporation March 28th, 2000
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should know that the Export Development Corporation has rigorous rules when it looks at these projects in other countries.
The House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade recently did a study on the Export Development Corporation and made recommendations to the government regarding the environment and transparency. It will report on this issue by May 15.
Primarily our discussions at committee were to make sure that the Government of Canada was in no way funding environmentally damaging corporations in other countries.
Supply February 8th, 2000
Yes, exactly like Brant. In Brant particularly there are pockets where the unemployment rates are much higher than 12%. That is why this program was made, to make sure—
Supply February 8th, 2000
Mr. Speaker, one of the ways in which government makes sure the money it spends is well spent is to involve the local people. The hon. member asked why people in Ottawa should be making these decisions. He may not be aware but in ridings such as mine it is actually the local people who come together in various fashions and who sit down and work with the Canada Employment Centre offices to make sure that money goes into the area specifically where it is needed most.
In a lot of areas, in particular in an area like southwestern Ontario, there are pockets of high unemployment. That is really where we want those moneys to be directed.