Herb Dhaliwal

[Forests, October 1st, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, last week Canada had the honour to host the 12th World Forestry Congress for the first time in Quebec City. This was in partnership with the Quebec government. There were 4,000 delegates from 140 countries. We talked about the importance to the world of how to protect our forests and how to ensure that for the long term our forests survive and they contribute to the betterment of all citizens around the world.

[Devco, October 1st, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, first of all I want to acknowledge the good work done by the member for Sydney—Victoria as well as the member for Bras d'Or—Cape Breton, because both of them have spent a fair amount of time on this issue in relaying the concerns of their constituents to me directly.

I want to inform both those members that, first of all, all benefits to pensioners, as defined in both of their plans, will be fully met by Devco, but Devco, in regard to the surplus, has made application to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia to determine the entitlement of that surplus. As the matter is before the courts, I think I cannot--

[Softwood Lumber, September 26th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, once again this hon. member should take the time to study the figures. The amount of money that was allocated toward British Columbia was $50 million. Out of that $50 million, we have announced $3.5 million. Over the weeks and months ahead, there will be more money announced.

In fact, we have 1,100 applications of excellent projects throughout the Province of British Columbia to support those communities that have been hurt hardest by the duties that we are working very hard with the Americans to remove.

But the hon. member should stand--

[Softwood Lumber, September 26th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, as I responded yesterday, and I think the hon. member should take the time to study the file, we announced $3.5 million to support communities under the community adjustment program.

Obviously his colleague who asked the question yesterday did not even know that in his own riding we put in $310,000 to support the community and his colleague was up asking questions again.

The same hon. member should take the time to read the information so he knows the good work that is being done by WED through this fund to support communities right across British Columbia.

[Softwood Lumber, September 25th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the $110 million which we announced to help communities that are affected is the very reason to look at the communities that are hurt by the softwood lumber duties. The hon. member should stand up and tell us which projects that we have funded he is against and does not support.

[Softwood Lumber, September 25th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member had been following this issue closely, he would realize that we in fact just announced $3.5 million for community adjustment which would leverage $50 million across the province of British Columbia. He should be standing up and applauding the announcements that we made today for excellent projects across the province of British Columbia.

[Climate Change, June 11th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of the Environment and myself, and pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I am pleased to table, in both official languages, the report that was requested by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development asking for integrated climate change information. The report is entitled “Climate Change: The Federal Investment 1997-2002, A Comprehensive Report”.

[Softwood Lumber, June 11th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, when we introduced our first package of $350 million, this was one of the options we looked at. We have always said as a government that we have never taken that off the table. It is still on the table. We are monitoring the situation.

The hon. member should also keep in mind that since the duties have gone, yes, there has been an impact on communities, but the export of lumber has only dropped 8% across the country. We understand this still affects communities. We are very concerned, and we are monitoring the situation very closely.

[Softwood Lumber, June 10th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is wrong when she says we are turning a deaf ear. In fact the hon. member knows the government put up $350 million to help the workers, and to ensure that we look at diversification of trade.

Also, on community adjustment, as the hon. member has heard many times in the House, those programs are working. They are ensuring that we work with communities and local community groups to look at employment opportunities and diversify their economy.

At the same time we have said that we will monitor the situation. If more needs to be done, we will be there to support our industry and our workers.

[Softwood Lumber, June 6th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated earlier, part of the softwood lumber package includes $71 million to assist displaced workers. We want to make sure that the workers who are laid off can benefit. We understand the difficulty the workers are facing in the softwood lumber industry and we are doing everything we can.

However, we do have a program in place and it is working. As we have said, if we need more, that is something we are monitoring very closely.