Sergio Marchi

[Softwood Lumber, March 25th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, yet again the Reform Party is late. Not only are we fighting but we have already consulted the American side. We have told them that we will be proceeding through the dispute mechanism system as well as taking this to the World Customs Organization.

We are trying to work within the confines of this agreement. But we do not accept the American intention to expand the agreement into areas that quite frankly are unfair. We will, and have already started the claim.

[Women Entrepreneurs, March 24th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, in the government's attempt to expand the trade culture to include small and medium size businesses, the women entrepreneur constituency is one of our main priorities. That is why we led a women's mission exclusively to Washington.

That is why we established the women's research coalition so that we can understand not only what is happening with women led, women owned companies in Canada, but what their needs are from an export market perspective. That is why in May the United States and Canada will be holding the first women's trade summit. We very much look forward to these initiatives.

[World Trade Organization, March 19th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is negotiating the composition of the WTO special panel. We think that agreement on the composition is imminent, but should no agreement be reached soon, Canada is prepared to ask the director general of the WTO to designate the members of the special panel.

[Softwood Lumber, March 18th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the preamble to the gentleman's question is wrong.

Not only did the producers support the agreement but all the four provinces agreed with entering the agreement. We have already said that the American position lately on this new tariff will not be accepted by Canada.

We are speaking to the very producers and stakeholders to monitor the situation and to evaluate what best options are available.

Certainly we are prepared to defend the softwood lumber industry to the teeth.

[Trade, March 17th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I understand the reasons for the member's frustration.

The member pretends and purports to stand up for Canadian youth and interests. His party gave information to another country against best interests. I think it rings hollow when the member can be so disloyal and purport to represent Canadian interests.

[Trade, March 17th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the member shows a lot of chutzpah in getting up in this place. It is one thing to be critical of the government. It is another thing to have a debate in this House. But it is quite a different story to turn around and give the documents to Brazil and jeopardize our industry, our interests and Canadian jobs. The member should apologize.

[Trade, March 17th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, was there a question or was there a complaint that the Reform Party was as guilty as sin about being disloyal to the Canadian interest, to Canadian workers in Montreal and across the country?

[Points Of Order, March 16th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, during question period I gave a copy of the excerpts which show eight times in the report that the Reform Party provided information to the Brazilian government.

It is with pleasure that I table this document for the House of Commons.

[Trade, March 16th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, first, last July when the leader of the Reform Party travelled to Asia, he publicly and deliberately undermined our interests on trade and investment.

Second, yesterday and today Reform members continue to try to undermine the independent KPMG report that shows that Canada is number one. Now, in the WTO report that was just released on the aircraft dispute between Brazil and Canada, it cites seven different references where the Reform Party has given information to the Brazilian government to help it with its case. This is absolutely shocking and borders on sabotage of our national interests. Which side of the case is the Reform Party on?

[International Trade, March 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for asking because this afternoon KPMG International tabled its report.

The conclusions reveal that Canada has the lowest cost for establishing a business among all the G-7 countries. It looked at 8 countries, 64 cities and 9 different industrial sectors. Canada came out by a country mile, clearly in first place.

What is says is that Canada has an excellent environment for investment. We all need to tell the story loudly and proudly to the world.