Lost his last election, in 2004, with 43% of the vote.
Economic Development December 3rd, 2001
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of National Revenue and excellent Secretary of State responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec.
Following this year's emergency debate on the state of Canada's resource industries, could the minister tell us about the changes made to support Quebec businesses in resource regions?
*Question No. 73 November 22nd, 2001
With regard to grants, contributions and/or loan guarantees made either by a Crown corporation, a department and/or an agency of the government to General Motors in Sainte-Thérèse, Quebec, for each fiscal year since 1965: ( a ) how many such grants, contributions and/or loan guarantees were made; ( b ) what was the source and value of each grant, contribution and/or loan guarantee; ( c ) on what dates were they issued; ( d ) what was the reason such assistance was provided; and ( e ) what is the present status of the grant, contribution and/or loan guarantee (whether repaid, partially paid, or unpaid, including the value of the repayment)?
Mining Industry November 19th, 2001
Madam Speaker, Canadian and Quebec taxpayers have contributed over $6 million to relocate highway 117 over some three kilometres in Val-d'Or.
The work is in connection with the expansion of activities at the McWatters Sigma mine in order to provide access to buried treasure of some 2 million ounces of gold, which, at today's price, is worth over $500 million.
The work is complete, and Quebec transport will inaugurate access to the new road on November 21.
McWatters will be accountable to the taxpayers of Val-d'Or, the workers in the Sigma mine and to the ordinary creditors.
Funding has been in place since September, and the only outstanding question is that of the creditors, who are waiting for a settlement to have the Sigma mine project start up again.
Are taxpayers and mine workers going to be left waiting after December 12?
*Question No. 71 October 31st, 2001
From 1990 to 2000, for each year and for each province and territory: ( a ) what volume of gold was produced and what were the extraction costs; ( b ) what was the financial value of the gold produced; and ( c ) what quantity of the gold produced was sold by the Bank of Canada?
*Question No. 72 October 24th, 2001
With respect to the gold market and the Bank of Canada's activities in this area: ( a ) what is the average daily volume of transactions on the international gold markets; ( b ) since 1980, what have been the key elements of the Bank of Canada's policy on the sale of gold with respect to its international reserves; ( c ) since 1980, has the government's gold sales program proved advantageous for the government; and ( d ) if so, why?
Agreement between Quebec and the Cree October 24th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Grand Chief of the Grand Council of the Crees, Dr. Ted Moses, signed a historic agreement in principle at the Quebec national assembly.
This agreement is based on a common desire to settle the disputes between Quebec and the Crees, through a new framework based on dialogue, to pursue the development of Northern Quebec in the respect of the Crees' way of life, and to ensure greater responsibility by the Crees regarding their own development.
Grand Chief Moses said “We feel that this agreement and the final agreement to be signed by the end of 2001 are important steps that will allow us to pursue the development of our communities and to become players in Quebec's development. The positive impact of this agreement on future opportunities for young people is even more important to us”.
Congratulations to Dr. Ted Moses for his leadership, to his team and to Roméo Saganash.
Prime Minister of Canada October 5th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Prime Minister of Canada and member for Saint-Maurice, in Quebec, is more popular than ever.
According to the results of a Gallup poll released today, the Prime Minister has beaten his own popularity record, and is now the first choice of 62% of Canadians.
Since being re-elected for a third consecutive term of office as leader of the Liberal Party in November 2000, the Prime Minister had never made it above 56%, already amazing, given the number of parties on the Canadian political scene.
The Liberal Prime Minister's biggest jump in popularity was in Quebec, where it climbed to 65% in September.
If an election had been held last week, the Liberals would have won, with 60% of the vote in Canada.
In Quebec, 68% of the population would have voted for the Liberal Party of Canada, led by the Liberal member for Saint-Maurice.
Softwood Lumber October 4th, 2001
Mr. Chairman, I rise today because it is not just that. All the political parties and provincial governments are getting involved.
I am first and foremost a former forestry worker in the Abitibi and the economy of the Abitibi—Témiscamingue region is largely based on lumber and mining.
As I said earlier, we too make the rounds of our vast regions. In Quebec's great Abitibi--Témiscamingue region, resolutions are being passed all over the place. People are getting involved.
On September 12, for instance, the Témiscamingue RCM proposed a resolution at a meeting where county councillors and mayors were present. The meeting was chaired by Philippe Barette, the mayor of Témiscamingue and reeve of the RCM.
These people say in their resolution, which they sent directly to the minister and to the federal government, that they are opposed to the imposition by the United States of countervailing duties on Canadian lumber. They ask that the government:
--energetically oppose the imposition of countervailing duties by the United States on Canadian lumber and ensure that resource regions are treated justly and fairly.
It is the same thing with the town of Senneterre. We see what is happening in resource and northern regions. It is important to say it and not just make fine speeches about what we do in the House of Commons. There are small municipalities that take the time to pass resolutions. I have one here from the town of Senneterre, a municipality administered by mayor Gérard Lafontaine and the councillors. They say:
Whereas the United States is unfairly invoking a sudden and massive increase in Canadian exports, and also subsidies to the industry to justify their action—
This an excerpt from a resolution passed on September 14. These are all resolutions that were adopted recently.
I want to go back to the case of Précibois in Barraute, a company that employs forestry workers. France Gagnon clearly indicated to the Quebec and Canadian governments that the value added sector must immediately be excluded from this trade war because it affects our forestry workers, either at the plant or in the bush.
Processing industries operate under unique conditions that were not taken into account by the United States. The decision made on September 4 by the United States trade department to impose countervailing duties of 19.3% on softwood lumber, based on our declared value rather than on first processing value, is contrary to American practice in previous disputes and will have serious consequences for our secondary producers and wholesalers in Canada. The Canadian government believes this decision is not based on any law nor any fact, and is urging the United States to cancel it.
One must read the papers. At present, people are afraid of retroactive measures. If, in the coming weeks or the coming months, a long term fixed rule is adopted, with one time countervailing duties applied retroactively for several months, during the summer, that will hurt, in the Abitibi and Quebec especially.
Nobody cuts wood on Wellington Street in Ottawa, or on Sainte-Catherine Street, in Montreal, or on Grande-Allée in Quebec City. That activity goes on in resource regions, especially if it is permanent. The Abitibi--Témiscamingue will be out of breath. I believe in Liberal minister's competence, I know he is working hard to get a victory for us and we will have that victory with the governments.
The government of Quebec decided to do everything it could to demonstrate, as it successfully did in 1991, that the forestry regime in Quebec does not in any way subsidize the softwood lumber industry. That is why Quebec is doing so well in its battle, with the help of every political party at the provincial and federal levels. However let me be clear on one thing. According to a study, referred to earlier, which was carried out in Quebec:
In Quebec, the price of timber stands on private lands is used as a benchmark to estimate the stumpage fees paid to the crown for trees taken out of a timber berth. The purpose of the study was to confirm the suitability and the legitimacy of this estimate in the context of free trade.
Consultants were asked to answer three basic questions: Are timber stands on Quebec private forests competitive? Are they representative of the world market for timber stands? And finally, are they properly assessed?
According to the study, the answer to all three questions was an unqualified yes. Therefore, the study confirms our claims and supports the answers we provided to the United States department of commerce last June.
I think it is important to stress that this recent study, which was very well done, confirms, clarifies and reinforces Quebec's position on this issue.
Under the current as well as the previous governments, Quebec has always been in favour of free trade, and we believe that we can benefit from easier access to the America market and still fully comply with the NAFTA and international trade rules.
The position, which is now supported by this study, is very clear: our timber market from private lands is competitive and representative. It is that market that determines fairly the level of stumpage fees for timber from public lands.
That means that free market rules are fully respected. We disagree with any measure that would limit trade, such as the introduction of quotas and countervailing duties, which would hurt Quebec's forest industry.
That is the most important thing. We must think about the industry, about workers, about families. Our forests are located mostly in our resource regions. I understand that there are certain disputes. I have to mention the James Bay situation. The James Bay Cree have vested rights in that area under the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, and they defend those rights.
I hope that, one day, the Cree from James Bay will be able to sit with people from the forest industry to try to find a solution to the logging issue in the northern part of the James Bay area.
In closing, I must say that I trust the minister, to whom I referred earlier as the Liberal minister responsible for 2 x 4s. We will win this battle together, with the opposition parties and the government, and one day we will be able to refer to this Liberal minister as the minister responsible for 4 x 4s.
Softwood Lumber October 4th, 2001
Mr. Chairman, as I said earlier about the Liberal minister responsible for 2 x 4s, who is here today, I appreciate the efforts of the hon. member for Joliette. I want to emphasize that. We are here to protect workers and producers in the forest industry, which is a major part of the economic base of Abitibi-Témiscamingue. I would like to ask this question.
Is the study he referred to earlier the one made by Del Degan, Massé et Associés, in co-operation with the Groupe de recherche en économique et politique agricole of Laval University?
This study has proven beyond any doubt that the timber royalties system in Quebec is in line with all the rules on trade between Canada and the United States and that it cannot be considered an indirect subsidy for our forest workers and producers.
Is that the study the hon. member was talking about?
Softwood Lumber October 4th, 2001
Mr. Chairman, this is the first time in my political career that I have witnessed a federal minister stand up and defend the rights of forestry workers in all of the provinces and in Quebec. I am not afraid of saying it.
There are nonetheless causes for concern. The question I am asking is not my own but comes from Ms. France Gagnon, of Barraute, chief executive officer of Précibois. Here is what she said:
As with previous softwood lumber disputes, it was critical that countervailing duties be applied to the primary mill rate. The American decision to impose countervailing duties on the final mill rate means that the non-subsidized primary sector is hit first, and hit hardest. It is a duty that could decimate an entire industry.
We are talking about an entire industry in the Abitibi and in Quebec.
Will the minister be able to exclude the value-added sector from the trade war immediately?