Gerald Keddy

[International Trade, June 14th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the answer is pretty simple. The NDP has no intention of signing any deals on trade because it is anti-trade. It continues to be anti-trade. Since we formed government in 2006, we have signed free trade agreements with nine countries. Once in the history of the party, NDP members supported one free trade deal. They have criticized everything we have ever done and anything any previous government has ever done. They are anti-trade and anti-jobs.

You have a chance to get on board here. If you want to talk about trade, you can get on board and support—

[International Trade, June 14th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, negotiations are ongoing. Because we are still in negotiations, we do not have an end result. When we get the end result, we will let the hon. member know.

However, I have a question for the hon. member about jobs, because I do not understand what the NDP has against jobs. A 20% increase in trade with the European Union results in jobs. More money in exporters' pockets results in jobs. I knew New Democrats were anti-trade; now I understand they are anti-jobs.

[International Trade, June 13th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should just stop and think it over. It is pretty clear. I will put it out in point form. Stop signs are stop signs and everyone stops at them.

We have made a lot of progress in discussions. Negotiations are ongoing. There is no fixed date and there is no timetable. We are driven by the content of the agreement.

We will only sign an agreement that is in the best interests of all Canadians.

[International Trade, June 13th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should be well aware from the Prime Minister's own words, his own press release from London, that negotiations are ongoing. We continue to negotiate in good faith, and both sides continue to move closer together. We expect to be able to finish these negotiations at some point, but we will not be stuck to a timetable. We will negotiate an agreement that is in the best interests of all Canadians.

[Committees of the House, June 13th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 109, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, copies of the government's response to the report of the Standing Committee on International Trade entitled “Report on an Economic Partnership Agreement Between Canada and Japan”.

[International Trade, June 12th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, it is always great to welcome the NDP back to the trade file. We know it is anti-trade. Its position has been pretty consistent in that. It seldom veers from that. However, we welcome the NDP back.

The reality is that we are negotiating a high-quality, 21st-century agreement. We are only going to settle an agreement if it is in the best interests of Canada.

[International Trade, June 12th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, any suggestion that the free trade negotiations are over is patently false. The reality is that we continue to get closer, both the European Union in their demands and Canada in our demands. We continue to get closer to negotiating an agreement, but we are not there yet.

We are after an agreement that will be high quality. We will judge this agreement on the quality of the agreement, not on a timetable.

[Intergovernmental Relations, June 12th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the provinces and municipalities have been involved in the negotiations since the beginning. They continue to be involved. They are at the table, and they are briefed regularly.

[Parks Canada, June 7th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about Sable Island. Last night, Bill S-15, the expansion and conservation of Canada's national parks act, finally went through second reading in the House to allow the bill to proceed to committee.

Sable Island is a unique spot off the east coast of Atlantic Canada, 300 kilometres off the shore of Nova Scotia, 42 kilometres long and about 1.5 kilometres wide at its widest point. Most people know Sable Island for the Sable Island horses and as the graveyard of the Atlantic. It is an absolutely unique spot off the coast of Nova Scotia. It should become Canada's 43rd national park.

I urge the committee to pass the bill as quickly as possible and to send it back to the House for third reading. We can pass this legislation before the House rises for the summer. I urge all members of the House to work in a co-operative manner to do exactly that.

[Expansion and Conservation of Canada’s National Parks Act, June 6th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, my question to the minister is not about why the NDP would decide to delay this when the NDP Government of Nova Scotia has asked us to pass it as quickly as possible. That is a question the NDP members need to ask themselves.

I am someone who has been on Sable Island at least a couple of dozen times. Other than the Minister of the Environment and the member for West Nova, I do not think any other members in this place have been on Sable Island.

It is a unique part of the world. It is a unique part of Atlantic Canada. We are going to have some low-impact activity allowed on the island.

Can the minister explain why this is unique to this agreement?