Lost his last election, in 2004, with 37% of the vote.
Points of Order December 7th, 2001
Madam Speaker, in fact I am concluding. Then at the point you wanted to create greater clarity you sought to call the vote again and there was an implied consent because in the vote taken both sides participated in the nays and the yeas. In fact they gave implied consent, Madam Speaker. The Speaker made the right ruling and the yeas in fact won the day.
Points of Order December 7th, 2001
Madam Speaker, excuse me, perhaps the opposition would be quiet and respectful of my right to speak and not disturb me. I have always been respectful to the opposition.
May I continue, Madam Speaker. Then you sought the permission of the House--
Points of Order December 7th, 2001
Madam Speaker, I was in the Chamber when no doubt what the opposition was saying, that you said nay and you pointed to that side, was correct. I have said that. I stood. However it should also be acknowledged that because there were some discussions going on both sides of the House there was not great clarity and the Speaker--
Afghanistan November 22nd, 2001
Mr. Speaker, the member is right. The significance of this particular conference is enormous for the Afghan people and for humanity itself.
The Afghanistan Tomorrow conference, which I had the privilege of launching this morning, is aimed at developing a better understanding for Canada of the religious, social, economic and political dimensions in Afghanistan from the Afghan point of view by engaging relevant experts, as well, by developing the NGOs and the Canadian government strategies to develop alternatives for the reconstruction of Afghanistan.
Apec November 7th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, we market Canada's strengths through team Canada, trade missions and other programs, speaking about Canada as a high tech country and a country with first class products in goods and services and business people with integrity.
We participate in political and economic fora. We launch free trade negotiations, as with Singapore. We encourage trading countries to join the WTO so that they can participate in an internationally known, rules based system. We offer our business people support like the Export Development Corporation. Indeed, we have a lot of initiatives.
Export Development Act October 30th, 2001
moved that the bill be read the third time and passed.
Export Development Act October 30th, 2001
moved that the bill be concurred in.
(Motion agreed to)
Supply October 29th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I was listening intently to the speech of the hon. member who started by alluding to the unprecedented tragedy in New York. Of course we lament the loss of innocent lives which will forever remain silent. That silence can never be broken. We lament the absence of smiles in the families of the bereaved, smiles we know will take a long time to come back. Yet at the end the member spoke about ending the war against terrorism.
The tool we have chosen to go after terrorists in that part of the world is a coalition of nations. If the member could suggest another avenue other than a military approach at this time, let him say it. The terrorists will not surrender. They will not come out and say here we are, put us in jail, execute us. We must make a distinction. We must pursue the terrorists even if it means using military might because in the end it will mean peace, security and stability in that part of the world.
To the issue of the negotiations at Doha, may it please the House to know that I have just returned from the meeting of APEC, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation group of countries, in Shanghai. We announced there that Canada has donated $9 million to help developing countries participate meaningfully so they will know their rights as they negotiate their agenda at the Doha conference. It has been agreed by all APEC economies that the agenda will be on growth and development.
In addition to international aid and debt relief, the promotion of fairer trade in the world would be an additional pillar to help sustainable development in developing countries.
Supply October 29th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, we acknowledge that Canada's expenditure in 1999 as a percentage of GDP was low.That is why in the year 2000 we increased it and why I said we would continue to increase our support for international assistance.
We are not only making fine speeches, we are doing the deeds that ought to be done. The Minister for International Cooperation is in Paris right now at the UNESCO meeting trying to galvanize support for the poor.
We will work with our partners and together we shall achieve the dream of all of us, which is to alleviate and eradicate poverty in the world.
Supply October 29th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, millions of dollars are not insignificant. When our fiscal position permits we will do more, as the Prime Minister has said repeatedly in the House.
What we would like to impress upon the opposition is this. International assistance, international development does not depend on dollars alone. It depends on other strategies and that is why we have pursued this strategy of debt relief as well as promoting international trade. The latter will create wealth and with that social prosperity for the people in the developing nations of the world. That is why the APEC countries, the Asia-Pacific region, that houses more than half of the population's poor agreed that we should pursue a policy of trade so that they too can develop and reap the benefits of globalization.