Christian Paradis

[Asbestos, December 6th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I think my colleague has forgotten part of this parliamentary session. He asked the same question at the beginning of this session and we clearly stated that since the Government of Quebec no longer wished to mine chrysotile asbestos, it was clear that Canada no longer had any reason to oppose including chrysotile asbestos on the Rotterdam Convention list.

In addition, we have allocated $50 million for economic diversification. Yes, economic diversification. That is what was announced. The terms and conditions of that funding will be announced shortly.

[Foreign Investment, December 6th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, the real form of disrespect that we can see is from NDP members. They say that they care about foreign investment when they do not. They are against foreign investment. They are anti-trade. They propose putting a carbon tax of $21.5 billion on the shoulders of Canadians. That is irresponsible.

Canadians can count on their responsible government, a government that is open to foreign investment as long as it provides a net benefit for Canada. That is exactly what we are reviewing in the best interests of Canadians.

[Foreign Investment, December 6th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, as soon as NDP members open their mouths there is a major investment chill. They are against foreign investment in our country. The Liberals, like they said a couple of weeks ago, would rubber-stamp each form of transaction.

Canadians can count on their responsible government to ensure that each transaction will be evaluated on its own merit.

[Foreign Investment, December 6th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member knew the legislation as she should, she would see that section 36 provides for a consultation process.

What is really irresponsible is for a political party like the NDP to suggest that it would not allow any form of foreign investment in the country.

That is not how we operate. We are open to foreign investment because it puts our enterprises in the global value chain, provided there is a net benefit to our country. Canadians can count on a responsible government to evaluate each transaction on its merits.

[Foreign Investment, December 6th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, the hon. member is well aware that when a transaction is proposed, Canadians are free to express their views to Industry Canada's transaction evaluation branch. That is what is happening. Of course, for reasons clearly explained in section 36 of the act, this sensitive information cannot be released.

One thing is certain: Canadians can count on a responsible government that will always makes decisions in their best interests, unlike the NDP which proposes a radical program that would block all forms of foreign investment. That is irresponsible.

[Aerospace Industry, December 3rd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, David Emerson tabled his report last week, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his excellent work.

This is important because we have an excellent aerospace industry. Our industry ranks fifth in the world, but we must not rest on our laurels. Our government has a vision, and we need the expertise of outside consultants to know where we will be in 5, 10, 15 or 20 years. Right now, Canada is the best place to invest, and Canada is the country with the best corporate tax system.

We want to continue to lead in the aerospace industry, and we hope that the NDP will support us in our endeavours, for once.

[International Co-operation, December 3rd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, that is not true. This bill would not help the ones that it claims to. The fact is that we put forward $4 billion of initiatives to make sure that medicines are provided to the countries in need, and the NDP always voted against it. The question is why it votes against it when we know that this $4 billion helped to secure a global fund of $10 billion for the countries in need. This is real action, and shame on New Democrats for voting against that.

[International Co-operation, December 3rd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, that is not true. The bill would not improve the lives of the people it purported to help. The real question is this: why did the NDP vote against $4 billion in initiatives that would have provided medications to countries in need?

The NDP always voted against those initiatives. The $4 billion would have secured a global fund of $10 billion. Those are real initiatives, not just rhetoric. That is real action. Shame on the NDP for voting against them.

[Foreign Investment, December 3rd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, clearly the criteria proposed by the NDP members is no investment at all, no trade at all, no progress at all in terms of the economy. They propose a carbon tax of $21.5 billion on the shoulders of Canadians. It would be a job-killing tax. They want to tax everything. They want to raise taxes everywhere. That is not responsible.

We welcome foreign investment that provides net benefit for Canada. Each transaction is reviewed under its own merit.

[Foreign Investment, December 3rd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians can count on a government that has a responsible approach. We are open to foreign investment as long as it provides a net benefit to Canada. On the other side of the House, the NDP has a radical and irresponsible anti-investment and anti-trade agenda.

Each transaction that is proposed in Canada is assessed on its merit based on what will bring the greatest benefit to Canadians and what will be in their best interests. This is the approach that we are going to continue to take.