Gerald Keddy

[International Trade, September 28th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, improving access to high-growth markets in the Asia-Pacific region is a key part of our government's pro-trade plan. Our priority is to remove Chinese trade barriers and increase exports such as lumber, grain, beef and value-added Canadian products.

Our government's long-standing commitment is to provide public access to investor-state dispute settlement mechanisms. Canada's FIPA with China is no different. As we do with other investor-state disputes, this FIPA provides for Canada to make all documents submitted to an arbitration tribunal available to the public.

[International Trade, September 19th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, it is no wonder that the NDP wants to hide from its anti-trade record. Its members opposed free trade with Norway. They opposed free trade with Liechtenstein. They opposed NAFTA. The NDP member for Burnaby—New Westminster even worked against Canadian exporters, calling Buy American a perfectly logical policy.

The NDP wants a Canada that hides from the world. Only our government's ambitious pro-trade plan is creating new opportunities for our workers and our exporters.

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, September 17th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I ask that the remaining questions be allowed to stand.

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, September 17th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, furthermore, if Questions Nos. 659-663, 665-669, 671, 675, 678, 681, 684, 685, 687-689, 691-693, 697, 700, 701, 703, 705, 706, 708, 709, 713, 714, 717, 719, 720, 722, 724, 726, 729-732, 734, 735, 737-742, 745, 746, 748, 749, 751-754, 756, 757, 759-761, 763, 765, 766, 768, 770-772, 774-777, 780, 783-788, 793, 794, 796, 798-800, 802-805, 807, 809-812, 814 and 815 could be made orders for returns, these returns would be tabled immediately.

[Questions on the Order Paper, September 17th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, the following questions will be answered today: Nos. 664, 670, 672-674, 676, 677, 679, 680, 682, 683, 686, 690, 694-696, 698, 699, 702, 704, 707, 710-712, 715, 716, 718, 721, 723, 725, 727, 728, 733, 736, 743, 744, 747, 750, 758, 762, 764, 767, 769, 773, 778, 779, 781, 782, 789-792, 795, 797, 801, 806, 808, 813 and 816 to 818.

[Government Response to Petitions, September 17th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 139 petitions.

[Points of Order, June 19th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, in my answer in question period, I listed the free trade agreements. In my excitement, I mentioned Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is under NAFTA, not under a free trade agreement. I just wanted to correct that.

We do have one with Costa Rica, however, and I forgot Israel.

[Mining Industry, June 19th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I question where the member is getting her source of information, but the overwhelming majority of Canadian mining companies are world leaders in responsible mining practices. They employ hundreds of thousands of Canadian workers who support countless families. The corporate social responsibility counsellor's review process is a common sense approach that enjoys broad support within the mining community, and the CSR counsellor helps Canadian companies uphold their social and environmental responsibilities by operating abroad. The system works.

[International Trade, June 19th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, NDP members do not support trade. They did not support the free trade agreement with the United States. They did not support NAFTA. They did not support Chile. They did not support Peru. They did not support Puerto Rico. They have not supported Panama and have yet to support Jordan. They never supported the European free trade agreement and have not supported CETA with the European Union.

The NDP's position on trade is very clear. Our side's position on trade is extremely clear. We are pro-trade. We engage in trade in the best interests of all Canadians.

[International Trade, June 19th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I have never had that ability to make a pig's ear out of a silk purse, but the hon. member obviously does.

The reality is that we did not give away anything to get to the table.