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Softwood Lumber June 5th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I do not know if the leader of the Bloc has been absent, but we have been taking action for a long time. We have assumed our responsibilities. We are working with the industry. We talked this morning with people from the industry. They are going to make a proposal. We are going to work together to find solutions to sustain the industry and all the men and women who depend on it. That is what we are going to do.
Softwood Lumber June 5th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, we are already aware of the problems in this industry. We met with the people from the Conseil de l'industrie forestière this morning. We are trying to find solutions. All provinces, the Government of Canada and the industry as a whole must maintain a common front in order to find solutions together. That is what we are working on at present.
Softwood Lumber June 4th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, for the softwood lumber problem, we have implemented measures for a total of $350 million. These are concrete measures. There are $110 million for the industry, to develop the communities. These are measures we have implemented in order to help the workers get through this crisis, and we hope to see this resolved as promptly as possible. Those of us on this side of the House are seeking solutions.
Softwood Lumber June 3rd, 2003
Mr. Speaker, there was a statement, a bit earlier, that we wanted to let the industry die. That is just about the most ridiculous thing that I have ever heard here in the House. The role of the government is to defend people and to support them, and that is what we are doing, but we do not wish to harm the industry. We want people to stay in their chosen field.
However, the Americans are maintaining the status quo on this and feel that we are subsidizing the industry, which is not the case. Meanwhile, we are trying to come up with measures to diversify the economy in the regions. That is what we are doing.
Softwood Lumber June 3rd, 2003
Mr. Speaker, it is important not to inflame the situation. Direct aid cannot be given to the industry because the U.S. would criticize us for doing so and this would not be in the industry's interests. That is what the Bloc Quebecois must understand.
However, at the same time, we have implemented measures of $110 million to support the communities with economic diversification. We have already announced some of these measures. We will continue to work toward this goal with the stakeholders and the provinces. That is what we will do.
Softwood Lumber June 2nd, 2003
Mr. Speaker, when the Americans decided to levy those taxes, we took concrete measures to help the industry. Some $110 million has been spent on economic diversification in these communities.
Announcements have already been made in this regard. For example, in the riding of the hon. member from the Bloc Quebecois who asked the question, 50 projects were submitted, of which 17 were accepted, for a total of $1.2 million. Investments of $5 million will be created. Many other projects are being studied. We will be making other announcements shortly, in order to support our communities.
Softwood Lumber May 29th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, as my hon. colleague mentioned, $350 million was announced; $110 million of which will go specifically to help communities. Of the 80 projects proposed, 17 have already been approved for the region, for $1.2 million; this brings our investments to $5 million.
We will continue to work with the industry, the provinces and municipalities to support the communities.
Softwood Lumber May 28th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, to repeat: we have $110 million from Industry Canada for measures to support the regions.
The hon. member should be working with his community to find alternatives for diversification. In his region, 80 projects were proposed and 17 accepted, for a total of $1.2 million. This will generate revenues of $5 million. These are concrete measures, and we will continue with them.
Softwood Lumber May 28th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, as my hon. colleague mentioned, of the approximately $350 million announced, $110 million from Industry Canada will help communities; Quebec, for which I am responsible, will get a share.
Some 80 projects have been proposed to help diversify and support economic development in the region. Of these, 17 projects have already been approved for $1.2 million. We will continue to support the regions as we have since the beginning, when the measures were announced.
Fisheries May 15th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, there is $600 million. We saw the Government of Quebec assume its responsibilities. It understood the importance of helping people in the regions, and it put measures in place immediately.
We have done the same thing with short-term measures. The Bloc Quebecois needs to recognize that we made $14 million available to them immediately. I can tell the member that both regional offices already have jobs available and together we will come up with solutions.