Christian Paradis

[Foreign Investment, September 26th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, we will always act in the best interests of the country. The Liberal Party, Mr. Canada, never turned any single deal in the country.

[Foreign Investment, September 26th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, when we speak with the business community and entrepreneurs, the ones who created the wealth in this country, they tell us that they are very afraid of the proposed NDP carbon tax, $21 billion of revenue. They are afraid of the NDP's approach of anti-trade, anti-business, and anti-investment.

I am speaking about Canada. I am proud to be Canadian. Everything we have done on this side of the House is in the best interests of Canada.

[Foreign Investment, September 26th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, our government will always act in the best interests of the country. As we have said, this transaction will be examined very carefully. I must also remind my colleague that the Investment Canada Act contains provisions to protect national interests. These are provisions the NDP voted against.

She spoke about company executives. I can say one thing: company executives can rest assured that we will not leave them out in the cold by bringing in taxes that are too high and by opposing any form of trade and investment in the country.

[Foreign Investment, September 19th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, the proposed transaction of Nexen will be scrutinized very closely. Our job here is to ensure that it provides a net benefit for Canada. This is what we will do.

I want to reiterate that our policies will always ensure that this is good for the economy, job creation and will not hurt Canadian families, as is proposed by the other side of the House.

[Asbestos, September 19th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, in case my colleague did not understand my answer, I repeat that Canada's position is to no longer oppose the inclusion of chrysotile in annex III of the Rotterdam Convention. That said, in my own riding last Friday, I had the privilege of announcing a diversification fund for the regions affected. The families and regions affected can count on a Conservative government for their future prosperity.

[Asbestos, September 19th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I was in my riding last Friday to announce Canada's position: Canada will no longer oppose adding chrysotile asbestos to annex III of the Rotterdam Convention. At the same time, I also announced $50 million in diversification funds for the workers and families of the affected regions. Our government cares about the future prosperity of the regions and families affected, and they can count on our Conservative government.

[Gasoline Prices, September 19th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. If that party had been elected, we would have an additional $20 billion in taxes a year. That is what Canadians would pay through the carbon tax. Is that the scam?

Here are the facts: the Conservative government reduced the GST by 2%, strengthened the powers of the Competition Bureau and brought in the Fairness at the Pumps Act. These are concrete actions that ensure that gas prices are contained.

It would be really shocking if these people came in with their carbon tax and prices jumped 10¢ a litre. They should explain themselves and tell Canadians the truth for once.

[Gasoline Prices, September 19th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, let us go with the facts. We reduced the GST by 2%, strengthened the powers of the Competition Bureau and brought in the Fairness at the Pumps Act.

In addition, when the Competition Bureau finds evidence of behaviour that violates the Competition Act, it does not hesitate to take law enforcement action to protect competition and consumers.

What about the $20 billion fact? What about the carbon tax that those guys over there are proposing? That is where the real question is.

[Foreign Investment, September 19th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, we all know that the NDP policy is to get away from trade tables. The NDP wants to put certain types of industries out of business. We will not do it. We will make sure that each transaction that is proposed here in Canada will provide a net benefit for this country. Each single transaction will be scrutinized very closely.

We will not go down the path proposed by the NDP that would kill jobs and hurt Canadian families.

[Foreign Investment, September 19th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's investment review process is watertight, and we make sure that every proposed transaction will provide a net benefit to Canada. That is what we assess. Every single transaction is scrutinized very closely, and this proposed transaction will be no exception.

As I said before, the NDP is not in a position to tell us how we should do things because its irresponsible economic policies would result in job losses and negative outcomes for Canadian families.