Gerald Keddy

[International Trade, February 16th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member may not have been listening to all of the press releases coming out of China, but the Prime Minister did sign a foreign investment and promotion protection agreement with the Chinese government, which will be a great benefit to Canadian businesses.

On the issue of seals, it is this government that has promoted the sealing industry since we formed government in 2006. We will continue to do that, whether that happens to be with the European Union, the Americans, the Chinese--

[International Trade, February 14th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, the reality is that the municipalities have been fully briefed on the CETA negotiations. They are represented at the table by the provinces and there is nothing new here. There is no outrageous underlying current of evil in this negotiation. These negotiations are good for Canada and will be good for the municipalities, and I totally reject the hon. member's question.

[International Trade, February 14th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I reject the premise of the hon. member's question but I will tell him what the CETA with Europe will do. It will offer a 20% boost in bilateral trade between Canada and the European Union. It will add a $12 billion annual boost to Canada's economy. It will result in a $1,000 increase in the average Canadian family income and create almost 80,000 new jobs.

For the life of me, I will never understand why the NDP is against all the good things that trade can bring to this country.

[International Trade, February 13th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, our government's ambitious pro-trade plan is getting results. While the Prime Minister was in China, he announced an agreement on Canadian uranium exports. This will benefit Canadian workers and their families, but do not take my word for it. Listen to Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief, Tammy Cook-Searson, who said, “This will mean more investment, job opportunities, business development and community support initiatives”.

While we are focused on creating jobs, the NDP's reckless and irresponsible anti-trade agenda is a danger to Canadian jobs. It should listen to what Canadians are saying.

[International Trade, February 10th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, today, the hard-working Minister of International Trade announced that the second round of talks to expand Canada's free trade agreement with Costa Rica was successfully concluded. An expanded free trade agreement with Costa Rica will enhance access for small and medium size businesses, which means jobs for Canadian workers and their families. This is further proof that our job creating, pro-trade plan is on track and delivering results.

[International Trade, February 10th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is absolutely right. Our government's ambitious pro-trade plan is getting results.

Canada's 2011 trade balance is in a surplus, fuelled by an almost 27% increase in exports to China. As the hon. member said, with one in five Canadian jobs generated by trade, this is great news.

We are focused on growing Canada's economy and creating jobs with our pro-trade plan. The NDP continues to promote its anti-trade agenda that will kill jobs. The NDP's reckless and irresponsible anti-trade agenda is a danger to the Canadian economy and to Canadian jobs.

[International Trade, February 10th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, we should be perfectly clear. The provinces have been part of these negotiations since the very beginning. They have been apprised of the negotiations. They have been in the room with our negotiators and European Union negotiators.

Any aspersions that somehow this is going to affect health care in Canada are simply false.

[International Trade, February 10th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I have said several times in this place that the NDP should not put any credibility in leaked documents. Those members should get their facts straight.

Like all of Canada's trade agreements, a free trade agreement with the European Union would exclude public services such as public health, public education and social services. Canada's trade obligations do not require us to privatize any part of our health care system. End of story.

[International Trade, February 10th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, the reality is we have signed a foreign investment promotion and protection agreement with China which will protect Canadian companies in China. We will continue to expand our trading relationship in China for the benefit of Canadian jobs here at home.

[Hockey, February 9th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to rise today to congratulate Brendan Nickerson, a young man and a rising hockey star from my riding of South Shore—St. Margaret's.

Brendan is a 15-year-old Cape Sable Island resident, who is the only Nova Scotian hockey player selected to play for Team Canada at the youth Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria.

Team Canada beat the United States 7-5 on January 21 and brought home the bronze medal.

In 2011 Brendan also played for Team Nova Scotia in the Canada Games in Halifax. There he won an under-16 gold medal, an even greater achievement since he was the youngest player on the team.

Brendan has also played defence for the Canadian Tire South Shore Mustangs for the past two years.

I congratulate Brendan on his exciting hockey victories. I wish all the best and good luck to him and his family.