Ed Fast

[Foreign Affairs, October 31st, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, in the past few years our government has been expanding Canada's relationships within the Asia-Pacific region to create jobs and economic benefits right here at home.

Today, the Prime Minister announced that he will travel next month to the Philippines and to Hong Kong, where he will highlight our growing people to people ties and strengthen our already deep and historic relationships.

I look forward to joining him on these visits to further build upon the partnerships that exist between Canada, the Philippines and Hong Kong.

[Foreign Investment, October 30th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, the NDP had three opportunities and passed them up.

I would remind the member opposite that this agreement represents a very significant step forward in protecting Canadians when they invest in China. The treaty will give Canadian investors greater confidence when they invest in China, in turn creating jobs and economic growth right here at home.

What Canadians are asking is this. What has the NDP done recently to promote trade and investment? The answer is a mammoth carbon tax that would be sucked out of the pockets of Canadian taxpayers. Shame on those members.

[Foreign Investment, October 30th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I remind the NDP that it had three separate occasions in which it could have debated the treaty in the House. It refused to debate it.

This treaty has been very well received by Canadian investors. In fact, it is fully reciprocal. It is designed to protect and promote Canadian investment by setting out a clear set of rules under which investment takes place and a clear set of rules under which dispute resolutions take place.

Canada's policy will continue to support transparency and public access to any dispute resolution under this agreement.

I remind the member that it was this Conservative government that established a formal tabling policy.

[International Trade, October 26th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, this treaty provides greater protection for Canadians against discriminatory and arbitrary practices. Despite the misinformed rhetoric of the opposition parties, the obligations of the parties are fully reciprocal.

The hypocrisy of the Liberals is astounding. Not only did they not have a policy for tabling treaties in this House, but when they chose to table treaties, it was years after they were ratified and already in force. So much for transparency.

On this side of the House, we are delivering real benefits for Canadian businesses.

[Foreign Investment, October 25th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, it was our Conservative government that actually introduced the tabling policy for the House. Every single treaty gets tabled in the House for 21 days to give the opposition an opportunity to debate it. The Liberals have had four opportunities and they have not taken up those opportunities. Shame on them. In the House, we will continue to focus on the priorities of Canadians.

[Foreign Investment, October 25th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, it is pretty rich for the Liberals now to talk about transparency in debating this. Over 13 long, dark years of a Liberal government, they never once had a tabling policy for these kinds of treaties.

[Foreign Investment, October 25th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I would remind the member that the NDP has had three opportunities to debate this treaty in the House. It choose not to do so. That was its decision.

Across Canada, Canadian investors have been applauding the agreement. In fact, the member should be listening to Jason Myers of the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters who said: “These agreements strengthen Canada's position as a strategic partner for China, advance our commercial interests within the second largest market in the world, and promise to deliver enhanced access to China's market for Canadian exporters”.

On this side of the House we are focusing on the priorities of Canadians, not the special interest groups that the NDP panders to.

[Foreign Investment, October 24th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I would remind the member opposite that this agreement represents a significant improvement in promoting Canadian investment in China. The treaty is similar to investment treaties that Canada has signed with many other countries and will provide stronger protection for Canadian investors and create jobs and economic growth at home.

However, unlike the previous Liberal government, we are actually tabling these treaties in the House. The Liberals are in no position to talk about transparency here.

[Foreign Investment, October 24th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, our government has introduced an unprecedented process for tabling these kinds of international treaties in the House. That is why the Canada-China investment treaty has been tabled in the House. If opposition members wish to debate it, they have had an opportunity to do so.

Surprisingly, the NDP members have had three opportunities to debate this agreement in the House. They have chosen not to. Why? Because we know they do not take an interest in trade and they do not take an interest in investment. On this side of the House, we support opening up new opportunities for investors.

[Foreign Investment, October 24th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, Canadian investors have applauded this agreement. The agreement is similar to many other treaties that Canada has signed and the treaty is designed to provide a very clear set of rules under which investments and dispute resolutions take place.

Sadly, the NDP's idea of promoting Canadian trade and investment is to go to Washington and tell Americans not to do business with Canadians. That is shameful. On this side of the House, we will continue to focus on the priorities of Canadians and open up new opportunities for Canadian investors.