Pat O'Brien

[International Trade, October 25th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, on trade policy, the Minister for International Trade speaks for the government in the House of Commons. He has repeatedly said, as I repeat again now, that the government is not interested in replicating a chapter 11 investor clause in FTAA or other multilateral agreements. However we know that we must have protection for Canadian investors abroad.

Is my colleague telling us that the Bloc Quebecois is not interested in protecting Canadian investments overseas?

[International Trade, October 25th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, maybe the hon. member is giving us a new revelation on Bloc Quebecois policy if he is telling us that it is not interested in protecting the investments of Canadian companies overseas. I certainly hope he is not telling us that.

I repeat, we are opposed to the replication of chapter 11 as it is written in the FTAA or other potential bilateral or multilateral agreements, but we can, we will and we must protect Canadian investors abroad.

[International Trade, October 25th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, it is quite clear that Canada does not advocate the replication of the chapter 11 clause that exists in NAFTA, in the FTAA or in other international agreements.

Having said that, obviously our investors need protection for their investments overseas. There has been a remarkable increase in Canadian investment overseas and that investment must and will be protected.

[Softwood Lumber, October 23rd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the hon. member is aware that there has never been a trade minister who is consulted more widely on the softwood lumber file than the minister who is now down at APEC?

There has been a consensus across this country cobbled together very carefully with tremendous work by the minister for trade, and we will win this case because the facts support the Canadian argument once again.

[Softwood Lumber, October 23rd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, as the member knows, the government announced an extensive package a couple weeks ago now to assist in this crisis which will take some time to resolve. We are on very solid grounds legally. We know that. We won this the times that we have been challenged in the past. We have won in the courts, and we will win again because the facts are on our side.

[Canadian Wheat Board, October 7th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's wheat sector policies have been investigated many times. Every time they have been shown to be fully consistent with our international trade obligations.

Marketing boards, such as the Canadian Wheat Board, are domestic policies. They will be made in Canada, by Canadian farmers.

[Committees of the House, October 3rd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) I am pleased to table, in both official languages, the government's response to the report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade entitled “Building an Effective New Round of WTO Negotiations: Key Issues for Canada”.

[Jack Burghardt, October 1st, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Jack Burghardt, former member of Parliament for London West, died Saturday at the age of 73. Mr. Burghardt was a well-known and highly respected newscaster in both Hamilton and London, where he was the outstanding news anchorman for 10 years.

After serving as a Liberal MP from 1981 to 1984, Jack turned to municipal politics and served as deputy mayor of the City of London from 1985 to 1994. I had the pleasure to serve with him on city council during those years and saw firsthand his dedicated and outstanding service to Londoners.

Jack was a strong Christian and after his political career ended he became the full time pastor and minister to two United Churches near London.

A dedicated father, a man of many talents, a proud Canadian and a great friend, Jack Burghardt was loved and respected by so many people. He was truly a gentle man. We extend our sincere sympathies.

May he rest in peace.

[Softwood Lumber, June 14th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, of course that is a silly comment for the hon. member to make.

The reality is that the government will take whatever action it considers necessary to protect the interests of the softwood lumber industry, as he refers to that, and if he is talking about the U.S. farm bill, we are prepared to work with our Cairns partners. Just as soon as there is the slightest opening that this farm bill may contravene the WTO obligations of the United States, the government will act.

[Softwood Lumber, June 14th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the award to Pope & Talbot was a very small percentage of the money it had asked for. The reality is that the government has taken the appropriate action in this case. Considering that this was a very small percentage of the award that was asked for by Pope & Talbot, I think the judgment speaks for itself.