Sergio Marchi

[World Trade Organization, June 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the fact of the matter is that on the federal-provincial scene, when it comes to international trade, this deal and partnership works harmoniously well.

The Government of Canada, in the case of asbestos, has had more telephone conferences, more meetings and more get togethers with the industry in Quebec and with province of Quebec officials than on any other issue. There has not been one complaint registered to me by the Quebec minister for trade concerning asbestos or any other interest.

There is a national interest within which the provinces certainly participate, consult and advise.

[World Trade Organization, June 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, as the Minister of Human Resources Development said moments ago, there are two reasons that the Quebec culture has flourished. First, it is because of Quebecers themselves and, second, it is because they have been able to live in the best country in the world which promotes diversity and uniqueness.

[World Trade Organization, June 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, at the last federal-provincial conference for ministers of trade, not only did the minister of trade for the province of Quebec agree with the entire agenda, he actually complimented the federal government on how it had been able to consult, not only with Quebec, but with all of the provinces.

“If it ain't broken”, the Quebec minister said, “don't fix it”.

[Export Development Act, June 11th, 1999]

It will soon come, Mr. Speaker.

[Trade, June 4th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, it is unfair to suggest that the involvement of the Minister of Foreign Affairs has been absolutely ineffective, far from it.

Through his actions in talking with his counterpart, the secretary of state in the United States, they have been able to put in the four month review. In this respect industries are talking. We have made it abundantly clear to the Americans that this is as negative for Canadian firms as it is for American firms. If they have been integrated for the last 40 years, our message is do not fix something that clearly is not broken.

[Trade, June 4th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the member is correct in raising a very serious issue which I think is going to be equally negative for companies from Canada doing business in Michigan and for the state of Michigan. I think it is going to discourage and scare away trade and investment in that state.

We have for the last number of months been dealing directly with the office of Governor Engler. We have been able to persuade him to take away the retroactivity going back 10 years. The fact remains that for companies doing business in the state of Michigan he is still contemplating at this time imposing a 2% tax.

[Softwood Lumber, June 4th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, we have an agreement with the United States. It is an agreement that was agreed to by all the four provinces within the agreement and by the entire industry from one coast to the other. The member knows this.

Now the commodity sector has come under great pressure both in Canada and the United States. That clearly does not justify the single-handed action the United States has taken. We will use every possible aspect of this agreement as well as the world customs and NAFTA to redress in the proper way the proper functioning of the agreement between our two countries.

[Softwood Lumber, June 4th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I think the member rather than joke about incredible non-starting comparisons should treat the issue with the seriousness it deserves.

We have an agreement that his province and that industry urged the federal government to get into two and a half years ago. It is obviously disappointing that the Americans are trying to expand the focus of this agreement. We have taken action. We have taken action against them at the world customs. The world customs has agreed with us again. If they continue to persist on the softwood rougher headed issue, we will continue to take action against them.

[Publishing Industry, May 31st, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Canadian Heritage said moments ago that there was no cultural exemption at the WTO. That is why we were taken to the panel in the first place.

There was an abdication of rules and that is precisely what the Minister of Canadian Heritage was saying. We got an historic agreement, one that caps their advertising from 100% to 18%, one that for the first time gives us content, and one that encourages additional investment in the publishing industry in Canada. I think by any measure that is a pretty good deal.

[Publishing Industry, May 31st, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, we have always said that Bill C-55 was founded on the services level where we do not have the clause for national treatment to impose on services as opposed to goods.

Also there is a great deal of difference between countries around the world offering assistance or subsidies to domestic industries as long as those products are not for export.