Sergio Marchi

[Taxation, May 5th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, it is interesting that the hon. member was not at the trade committee because there was and still is no contradiction.

Let me quote to the hon. member exactly what I said: “I think it is clear that the tax base between the United States and Canada needs to continue to be closed”. Clearly the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance have stated repeatedly that we have started that work and that work will continue.

[Trade, May 3rd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, let me thank my hon. friend for his interest in the free trade initiative of the Americas.

Under Canada's able chairmanship, I am happy to say that progress with those 34 countries is going well.

The ultimate aim is to create the largest free trade area in the world, which will be comprised of 34 nations, 800 million people and over $10 trillion.

As a result, we believe that Canada is strategically well placed, not only to participate, but to offer leadership to the free trade initiative.

[Publishing Industry, April 29th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, as the member knows, the government certainly supports the bill that is currently in the other place.

The meeting that concluded yesterday was the eighth meeting among American and Canadian officials to try to look at a number of the concerns. I would have to say there is good faith on both sides and there has been progress. Now the work of these officials will go to individual ministers and individual governments. At the end of the day, I think there is every possibility of doing the right thing for the magazine industry as well as protecting all of our important sectors.

[Trade, April 22nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada not only is standing up for all that amount in trade, it also believes in its Canadian culture. That culture is also part of our exports.

It is also not correct to say that the discussions with our friends from the United States are going badly. We have completed seven meetings. There is one next week. If the truth be known, on both sides there is good faith and a good attempt to try to avoid what we believe are unnecessary trade slippery slope threats. We will continue to defend—

[Trade, April 21st, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the truth is that after five years NAFTA has been a tremendous success for all three countries. Trade is up, investment is up, and employment is up. We have built a North American economy that is working well for all three countries.

At the same time, in addition to discussing the achievements, we also want to address the challenges that still confront NAFTA. We have said that we will put chapter 11 and the investor state on the agenda to discuss it from a perspective of transparency, narrowing the word and meaning of expropriation without reopening NAFTA and losing the entire chapter.

[Minister For International Trade, April 19th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I thought question period was to be a serious form of engagement. Perhaps the member might have a serious question.

[Team Canada Inc., April 14th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(1) it is my honour to table before the House, in both official languages, the 1998-99 Team Canada Inc. achievement report. As members will know Team Canada Inc. involves over 20 departments and agencies of the Government of Canada, each touching in some way the aspect of international trade.

[International Trade, March 25th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, we already mentioned moments ago in our answer to a question by another member that we will not accept this American ruling. We will challenge it both from within the dispute mechanism system in the softwood lumber agreement as well as consider taking the case directly to the World Customs Organization in Brussels. We are clearly standing for our industry and will not accept this latest attempt by the United States of America.

[Dairy Producers, March 25th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the member is correct. We only received the report last week, on March 17.

Yesterday the federal government met with the stakeholders from the dairy industry. As well, it has consulted all of the provinces.

I am now in a position on behalf of my colleague the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and the Government of Canada to say quite clearly that indeed it is our intention to make an appeal and thereby stand four-square behind the dairy industry.

[Softwood Lumber, March 25th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the member should know that a few years ago four provinces and the entire industry recommended to the federal government that we enter into this agreement. The member also knows that I have instructed our officials, two years before the agreement lapses, to consult with the same industry and the provinces to try to gather a national consensus on where we go from here. Will they want to continue the agreement? Do they want changes? Do they want to have no agreement?

We are engaged in that process. It is the member that is going through the motions.