Chrystia Freeland

[Ministerial Expenses, May 4th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I will continue to quote. That was “to help Harper land interviews with leading American”—

[Ministerial Expenses, May 4th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, let me remind the Conservative member of his own hypocrisy.

Here is a news story: “The Conservative government has hired two former White House communications strategists as part of a 'sustained' effort to raise Canada's profile in”—

[Ministerial Expenses, May 4th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, after a decade of Conservative damage, I am proud to promote Canada to the world.

Even the Conservatives saw value in promoting our ties to our largest trading partner. In fact, they spent $50,000 to hire one of Bush's top aides to arrange TV interviews in the United States. They defended that by saying, “Canada has a very good story to tell, and it won't tell itself”.

We could not agree more, but we do not need to pay Republican consultants. We get invited on our own merits.

[Ministerial Expenses, May 4th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, that question is a bit rich coming from the member opposite. He is a prime example of the damage that the Conservatives did to our relationship with the United States. For years under his watch as agriculture minister, our beef and pork farmers suffered from punitive, unfair U.S. country-of-origin labelling. He did nothing about it, but we did in our first eight weeks in office.

I will continue to work with and in the United States to support trade, jobs, and Canada's middle class.

[International Trade, May 3rd, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, our work on CETA removes all doubt as to our commitment to free trade.

However, we promised to consult Canadians on the TPP. Our government has held over 250 consultations on the TPP. None of the member countries have ratified the TPP yet.

We know that the Conservatives do not believe in public debate, but we do.

[International Trade, May 3rd, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, once again, the Conservatives are trying to create a story where there is none. It is my job to promote Canada abroad.

Since the opposition is so interested in this issue, I will repeat that they should keep in mind that it was their own former leader who spent $50,000 of taxpayer money to pay a consultant to find American interviews.

We do not have to pay Republican hacks to organize media appearances—

[Ministerial Expenses, May 3rd, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, once again the Conservatives are trying to create a story where there is none. I have already listed the business meetings I held in California. However, unlike the Conservatives, who do not like the media, we understand it is our job to talk to the media at home and abroad.

I want to point out that I appeared in the media in California with some important Canadian partners, Senator Angus King of Maine, and the California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom.

[Ministerial Expenses, May 3rd, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives continue to try to create a story where there is not one.

I would now like to share with the House some details of the business meetings I had when I was in California. Here are some of the people I met with: James Haney, senior VP and general manager of City National Bank, recently acquired by RBC; Greg Foster, CEO of IMAX; Creative BC, and Trade and Invest BC, were there; John Chiang, the treasurer of the state of California; and Jeff Gorell, deputy mayor.

Other meetings I had there included a reception with the Friends of BC, a meeting with Los Angeles economic leaders—

[Ministerial Expenses, May 3rd, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, unlike the Conservatives, we know it is our government's job to promote Canada to the world.

When I travel to promote Canada, I am proud to speak to the international media. Just yesterday, I gave an interview to POLITICO in Washington.

As minister, I would like to list some of the other international interviews I have done. I have done an interview with MSNBC, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, the LA Times, and the Financial Times. I have done three BBC interviews. I have spoken to EU Trade Insights. I spoke to La Libre; Deutsche Welle, the German TV; Bloomberg Television; Handelsblatt—

[Ministerial Expenses, May 3rd, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives continue to try to create a story where there is none. The media appearances were part of the official visit, along with six business round tables. It is my job to promote Canada to the world.

However, since the members opposite are so interested in this topic, let me remind them that their own leader, the former prime minister, spent $50,000 of taxpayer money to get himself U.S. media appearances. We do not need to do that; we get invited.