You have got to pay the price.
House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2004, with 65% of the vote.
Budget Implementation Act, 1995 April 26th, 1995
You have got to pay the price.
Budget Implementation Act, 1995 April 26th, 1995
What about the GST?
Budget Implementation Act, 1995 April 26th, 1995
Any grants?
Petitions April 26th, 1995
Madam Speaker, the second and third petitions deal with the issue of gun control.
The petitioners call upon Parliament not to enact any further firearms control legislation, regulations or orders in council. They are also opposed to any laws that put more restrictions or a prohibition on legal firearms ownership.
Petitions April 26th, 1995
Madam Speaker, I have before me three petitions signed by members of the Peace River riding.
The first petition is signed by 127 people who call upon the Parliament of Canada to oppose any amendments to the Canadian Human Rights Act or the charter of rights and freedoms which provide for the inclusion of the phrase "sexual orientation".
I agree with that petition.
Questions Passed As Orders For Returns April 25th, 1995
With regard to the Prime Minister's recent trip to Latin America, ( a ) how many business people accompanied the Prime Minister, ( b ) what was the total amount of federal government assistance to business people on the trip, ( c ) which Canadian companies signed firm deals, ( d ) what was the total dollar amount for these deals, ( e ) what was the extent and source of federal government financing to make these deals possible, ( f ) which memorandums of understanding were signed, and ( g ) what promises were made of possible federal government financing or other assistance if these MOU's should result in firm sales?
Return tabled.
Supply April 4th, 1995
Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for Mégantic-Compton-Stanstead for his spirited speech regarding agricultural producers in his riding. I too represent an agricultural riding in Alberta. I am a farmer and I appreciate his concerns for the people who are affected.
However, I do want to remind the hon. member that no one is talking about refusing to buy milk from Quebec, even though Quebec now enjoys 50 per cent of the Canadian fluid milk market with only approximately 25 per cent of the population. If Quebec were to separate, that might influence whether the rest of Canada would buy milk from Quebec. It certainly would not buy milk based on a 351 per cent tariff. It would be looking for a price based on a world price. If it is going to be competing it has to meet the competition. I see that as the biggest threat, not the decision of whether to buy from Quebec.
I would like the hon. member to give us some idea of how the supply-managed producers in his riding can make the transition from the current system, with 351 per cent as the high tariff on butter-they are all in that range-down to free trade in agricultural products, which is going to happen over a period of time. How do we make that transition easier for the producers? It is of concern to all of us. He talked about the hundreds of thousands of dollars that these people have invested. The same situation exists in the grain farming industry in western Canada.
It seems to me that as responsible people we have to not pretend that we will have the supply-managed tariffs in effect forever. We must look at the reality that we are going to have free trade and there will be zero tariffs down the road. We have to help these people make the adjustments necessary to get there. I would welcome his comments in that regard.
Supply April 4th, 1995
It is 15 per cent over six years.
Supply April 4th, 1995
Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for his comments. I know he is as concerned about the future of agriculture in Quebec as I am about the future of agriculture in all of Canada.
The hon. member made comments about the current tariff of 351 per cent on some products put in place on supply managed products. He also referred to the 50 per cent market for fluid milk Quebec farmers now enjoy. I have been having trouble with the logic of the Bloc's argument about how, when Quebec separates, it will continue to have 50 per cent of the Canadian fluid milk market at 351 per cent tariff. It does not seem to add up to me.
What steps is his government taking to help supply managed farmers in Quebec make the adjustment for the time when we have complete free trade in agriculture? That time is coming very quickly. In the beef industry we have free trade with the United States now. We actually have gone to some special import permits beyond the minimum access so it is happening quicker in the beef industry than even was scheduled under GATT.
The United States has served notice that it wants to discuss supply managed industries in Canada. Therefore there will be increased pressure to move to complete free trade.
It seems to me the Liberal government would have to be taking some concrete steps to help those farmers make that adjustment. If we are saying it cannot be done, if we will to maintain these 351 per cent tariffs, after a six year reduction in GATT it seems to me that tariff will still be 300 per cent, which is not realistic.
I ask the hon. member what he is considering doing to help these supply managed farmers make the adjustment necessary to continue to have a viable industry after free trade is accomplished.
Budget Implementation Act, 1995 March 30th, 1995
Where is your plan?