Pierre Pettigrew

[Softwood Lumber, May 12th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, we have won many times with regard to softwood lumber, and we keep ending up back at square one. The government is trying to sit down with the United States and have a dialogue about forestry systems as a whole, precisely to avoid having to go through this again in three, four or five years.

The Bloc is telling us, “Continue before the tribunals, we are going to win”. Yes, we are going to win. But the next day, the Americans will start all over again with a new petition. We want to resolve this situation once and for all and ensure unrestricted free trade for softwood lumber.

[Softwood Lumber, May 12th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, we have no intention whatsoever of backing down. Since the start, this government has always said that forestry practices in all provinces had already passed the test and were legal. We are continuing before the WTO and NAFTA, and we have total confidence in the decisions these international tribunals will hand down.

However, to expedite matters, in partnership with the provinces, we sat down with the Americans to see if this situation could be clarified with regard to the future.

[Trade, May 8th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, today I was pleased to table the fourth annual report on Canada's state of trade, with 2002 marking the eleventh consecutive year of economic growth, the longest and most stable expansion of the post-war era. Canada performed well despite the lacklustre economic performances of most of our major trading partners. Services trade was the bright spot in Canadian exports, registering an increase of $1.6 billion. As we move forward, I am convinced that momentum will pick up and we will approach 2004 with renewed economic and trade confidence.

[International Trade, May 8th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table in the House, in both official languages, the fourth annual report on Canada's international trade, entitled “State of Trade 2003”.

[Motions for Papers, May 7th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I ask that this Motion for the Production of Papers be transferred for debate.

[Export Development Canada, May 5th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the annual report on Canada's account 2001-02 of Export Development Canada.

[Canadian Wheat Board, May 5th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, it has been clear for some years that the American administration has been harassing Canadian wheat producers. We will continue to defend them in this Doha development round. Even though it was not part of the negotiating mandate, the Americans are pursuing the Canadian Wheat Board, and we will continue to stand up for it because we believe it is doing a great job on behalf of Canadian farmers.

The Alliance should remember that the Canadian Wheat Board elects two-thirds of its board members. We are going to stand by our Canadian farmers.

[Agriculture, May 5th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, as I say and as my colleague has said time and again, these decisions are decisions that are made in Canada by Canadians, but what western farmers would appreciate at this moment is that the opposition join us in recognizing that the OECD study acknowledged that the Americans subsidize wheat at $108 per tonne and we subsidize it at only $31 per tonne. The opposition should join us in supporting Canadian farmers who are being punitively attacked by the quotas at this moment.

[Agriculture, May 5th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, we are very disappointed that further duties will be applied to Canadian wheat entering the United States. We are monitoring anti-dumping investigations very closely to ensure that Canada's international trade rights are being fully respected.

Marketing systems are policy decisions that are made domestically and will continue to be made in Canada. I find it particularly hypocritical that the United States subsidizes wheat at $108 per tonne, whereas we only subsidize it at $31 per tonne. That is the reality.

[Softwood Lumber, April 10th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, what I stated very clearly before the standing committee yesterday, and the hon. member was present, is that our government and the entire government team stand firmly behind the softwood lumber industry. Even in Washington, it is recognized that in 25 years cooperation has never been as extensive, strong and close. We will continue to work constructively with our industry, whose progress this past year has made us extremely proud.