Lost his last election, in 2006, with 38% of the vote.
The Budget February 19th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, we have programs that are working very well in the area of softwood lumber. The industry in Saint-Fulgence, in the riding of Lac-Saint-Jean—Saguenay, just reopened, with 150 jobs.
Human Resources Development Canada and Natural Resources Canada have programs and the negotiations in Washington are going very well. Our government is doing its job.
Supply Management February 18th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I do not exactly know why the member is saying that it I often confront people with done deals.
What I can say is that I have a very clear mandate. We have always defended our dairy producers. We have supported them since the supply management system was started by a Liberal government. A Liberal government set up this system, and my mandate is to support it at the World Trade Organization, in conjunction with my colleague the Minister of Agriculture. We will succeed in doing so.
Supply Management February 18th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I will clarify this if I may. The matter of supply per se is not negotiable, or not under negotiation. The document Mr. Harbinson has submitted is about negotiating lower duties.
Of course, supply management depends on very high duties, so if these were to be lowered there would be a problem with supply management. So what is being negotiated is not supply management; this is not negotiable.
I have a very clear mandate from the Government of Canada: there is no question of negotiating supply management within the framework of the WTO at this time.
Government Loans February 18th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, the deal EDC negotiated, which was at arm's length from the government, was to cover bonds for third parties that actually do business with EDC. Thousands of jobs in Canada depend on exports. Every country in the world has an export credit agency like ours but we pretty much have the best one on the planet. Thousands of workers depend on EDC to continue financing Canadian exporters.
Government Loans February 18th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform the Alliance that the EDC is there to help Canadian exporters and it so happens that Nortel and Bombardier are two extraordinary and outstanding exporters from Canada.
EDC helps many thousands of small and medium sized enterprises. They have made money every year since EDC was created in 1944, but for one year. We have a pretty good deal with EDC.
Seal Hunt February 17th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, and I have been following this issue very closely with regard to American legislation. We continue to monitor the situation and pressure Washington regularly to defend our interests.
Government Loans February 17th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, EDC has been doing a fantastic job supporting Canadian exporters. Ninety per cent of its clients are small and medium sized enterprises.
The government will not take advice from an Alliance Party that prefers to support Embraer against Bombardier before the WTO by giving it information and supporting it. This is a government that stands by all Canadian exporters, small, medium and large sized enterprises.
Government Loans February 17th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I understand that EDC has agreed to provide Nortel cover for bonds secured against assets in support of future transactions. It is well within EDC's commercial mandate to provide trade finance services for Canadian exporters and investors. EDC is a financially self-sustaining crown corporation that has made money every year since 1944 with the exception of one year.
Supply February 10th, 2003
Is that your opinion?
Softwood Lumber February 6th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, what the government wants is unrestricted access to the United States market for softwood lumber. What the government will not do is what the Conservatives did in 1986 when they imposed an export tax and did not solve the problem for the long term. Now we are at it every four or five years.