Bob Speller

[Social Security System, February 3rd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening under Standing Order 37(3) to discuss a question I had in question period the first day of this session.

I know when I was on the other side of the House not too many members on this side of the House got up under this standing order.

However, I thought it might give me an opportunity to discuss a serious situation in my riding and in ridings across this country regarding Canada's position as it came out of the GATT negotiations regarding ice cream and yogurt. At that time I asked the minister what he was doing and how the negotiations were going with the Americans.

There is a lot of concern out there that over the past few years the government has not stood up for the rights of Canadian farmers when negotiating with the Americans on these issues.

In fact there are many in my riding of Haldimand-Norfolk who feel that the government has failed in any attempt over the past few years to put a strong argument forward on behalf of Canadian farmers.

I ask the minister if he would not stand up to the Americans and tell them we are not prepared to cave in to their position on ice cream and yogurt which was essentially to lower those tariffs to zero immediately.

The minister may not be aware of a legal decision that has come forward to us from the dairy farmers of Canada that in fact supports the Canadian position that we can put a tariff on ice cream and yogurt. I know the minister will be very pleased to hear this. In fact Richard Doyle of the Dairy Farmers of Canada says in a letter:

The drafters of the NAFTA text clearly recognized that GATT rights and obligations would not be static, but grow and change with the agreements negotiated under the GATT. In light of the extensive references to developments and future agreements under GATT, it appears unlikely that a successful argument could be made against Canada's decision to reduce tariff levels according to its GATT rights and obligations. In reviewing the legal opinion, valid arguments have been identified to support the position that your government took during the GATT negotiations.

I have here a legal opinion by the American law firm, Cameron and Hornbostel. I am sure the hon. minister does not have this legal opinion yet because it was just sent out. It is dated February 1.

I am sure when he receives it he will look at it and make it very clear to the Americans that unless we can negotiate a deal we do intend to keep these tariffs on ice cream and yogurt. In fact, we will fight as hard as we can to make sure that we have a continued supply management system in this country and a viable agriculture sector.

[Tobacco, January 28th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of National Revenue.

The minister met yesterday with representatives of Grand River Enterprises, the Assembly of First Nations and the people of the Six Nations of the Grand River regarding a tobacco manufacturing licence that they requested to help create 200 jobs in my riding.

I am wondering when the minister might be in a position to let my constituents and this House know when these people might be getting their manufacturing licence.

[Speech From The Throne, January 27th, 1994]

Than when the House opened.

[Speech From The Throne, January 27th, 1994]

I was there. That was a week later.

[Speech From The Throne, January 27th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I will leave the French language question to the hon. member.

I want to ask him a question regarding agriculture because I was surprised by some of the comments he was making regarding the minister of agriculture and what we in the Liberal Party did with regard to supply management.

The hon. member must be aware that when his leader was on this side of the House representing the Conservative Party, it was his party and his leader at that time who told Canadian farmers they would be protected, that they were going to protect them under the NAFTA and they were going to protect them at the GATT. In fact he was being a little less than honest with Canadian farmers as was the previous government in terms of what they were doing at the GATT. Also, what they were saying internationally was a different story from what they were telling Canadian farmers at home.

I am somewhat surprised. I take it the hon. member is the agriculture critic. I am surprised during this debate when we were making representations internationally that in fact we heard nothing from the Bloc. In fact during the first week in Question Period there was no question directed toward the Minister of Agriculture from that whole side regarding this very important issue, an issue of great concern to Canadian farmers which is the issue of ice cream and yogurt.

I want to ask the hon. member who is an agricultural representative from the Bloc why it is that when his leader was on this side of the House he was telling Canadian farmers something different from what he is now saying on that side of the House.

[Privilege, January 24th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to rise on a point of personal privilege and take exception to the comments made by the hon. member for Swift Current-Maple Creek-Assiniboia in his questions regarding free votes in this House.

This hon. member was suggesting that I as a member who chose to vote for my party was somehow not representing my constituents in Haldimand-Norfolk. I take exception to the tone of his question which suggested that all members on this side of the House, because we choose to support the policies of this government, are somehow not representing our constituents.

I want to assure the member that every time I vote it is a free vote. At the same time my constituents are being represented very well because before I vote I look at the issues very-

[Speech From The Throne, January 20th, 1994]

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I am somewhat surprised. We have now had two members of the Bloc up asking questions of my colleague and he has not yet been able to respond to them. I am wondering what rule you have been using to cut off the response to my colleague?

[Dairy Industry, January 19th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, in the absence of a question from the other side, my question is for the Minister of Agriculture.

First, I want to thank the minister for his work on behalf of Canadian farmers to date. He must be aware of the anxiety being felt in the dairy community regarding his negotiations with the Americans on ice cream and yogurt.

Canadian dairy farmers want the government to stand up to the Americans and not to cave in on their unreasonable request for zero tariffs on these products immediately.

What specific action is the minister prepared to take to assure the survival of a viable Canadian dairy industry? Is there a resolution to the problem that will help the Canadian dairy farmer?