Lost his last election, in 2006, with 38% of the vote.
Softwood Lumber October 23rd, 2003
Mr. Speaker, our government has not changed its strategy on that one. We are before the courts. We will continue to push these cases. We have six of them at the WTO and at NAFTA. However we continue to explore with the United States other possibilities that could advance this file in the best interest of our industry.
We always do it in close communication and close contact with the industry, but we will get the best possible outcome for the Canadian softwood lumber industry.
Softwood Lumber October 23rd, 2003
Mr. Speaker, the negotiators of Canada and of the United States met recently and compared notes to see the progress of the file since the July proposal, the best effort they had put on the table.
We are looking to the WTO and NAFTA decisions that have come our way to strengthen our hand. We will take into consideration, when continuing this dialogue with the United States, our progress before the courts.
Softwood Lumber October 23rd, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Alliance for asking me my first softwood lumber question in a few months. Indeed, the negotiators for Canada and the United States have met recently. They have--
International Aid October 23rd, 2003
Mr. Speaker, Canada is pleased with the historic, multilateral WTO solution to the agreement on trade related aspects on intellectual property rights.
We are pleased that this country is taking a leadership role on this file. There are expectations all around the world to see how Canada will progress on the file.
We will ensure that Canadian industry can contribute to the fight against HIV-AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in Africa. We will work with the industry and with all the partners involved to do that.
Trade October 23rd, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for his important and quite timely question.
Canada does not advocate the replication of a chapter 11 in the free trade area of the Americas agreement.
We do, however, believe that investors need clear rules on the treatment and protection of investment in a free trade environment; however, these rules must not enable investors to circumvent domestic laws, or things such as labour standards, environmental protection or consumer protection.
I would like to assure the member, and this House, that our experience with NAFTA's chapter 11 would be fully taken into account in the negotiations.
Trade October 8th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, yesterday in Montreal I had a very interesting and productive meeting with my colleagues, Ambassador Zoellick of the United States and Secretary Canales of Mexico.
We agreed on a number of practical steps to enhance trade and investment in North America that will increase the transparency and efficiency of NAFTA's chapter 11, establish a North American steel trade committee that will promote more openness and integration in the North American steel market and reduce exports related transaction costs in the NAFTA region. It is a work in progress, and we will continue.
Pharmaceutical Industry September 29th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, let me tell the House how proud I was, like all Canadians, when we made the TRIPS agreement and when the whole WTO membership agreed to give privileged access to Africans so they could fight these pandemics of AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.
Of course, we will want Canadian companies to be part of the effort and to contribute to alleviating the suffering and the difficulties they are having in Africa while respecting of course the intellectual property, as the TRIPS agreement requires us to do.
Agriculture September 19th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, it has been a top priority for our government to maintain that integrated North American economy and industry. We have been working with the Americans very closely. We have made sure that the decisions we were making would not threaten the integrated North American industry that exists.
We are very confident that we will continue the good work of finishing the job of opening the American border. This country is the first BSE affected country to ever see an international border reopened to it and that is because of the United States.
Agriculture September 19th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, the government works very closely with the cattlemen, indeed on any export permits that we grant. On imports we have been working with them through the summer. We have brought in far more stringent regulations precisely to help our cattlemen throughout this difficult summer. I intend to continue discussing with them any changes to our policy. We have been in close discussions with them.
Question No. 214 September 15th, 2003
In response to (a) EDC's General Allowance includes allowances for practically all loans and commitments on our books. We can advise that approximately 413 obligors are included in the total loans receivable for which we have provisioned for only in the event of a loss.
The amount of the allowance varies depending on the risk involved. For highly rated counterparties in OECD markets, the allowance will be very small. For loans with lower credit ratings, the allowance amount will be higher. This allowance represents amounts set aside to be used only in the event that there may be a loan loss.
Write offs as outlined in EDC's annual reports, 1998 to 2002--see page 79 of EDC'S current annual report are
2002 $194 million
2001 $191 million
2000 $105 million
1999 None
1998 None
1997 $18 million
1996 None
1995 None
In 2002 the allowances set aside per item (a) above totalled $4.5 billion and in addition, EDC'S total paid-in capital, retained earnings plus allowances, was $6.6 billion.
The write offs are very small in comparison to the size of EDC'S loan portfolio, $194 million v. $26 billion or .007% as at Dec. 31, 2002.
EDC has made profit in all but one year in almost 60 years of existence.
With respect to b) No recoveries to date on write offs.