Justin Trudeau

[International Trade, October 3rd, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, Chapter 11 has cost the Canadian government hundreds of millions of dollars over the years, which is why we are pleased that we signed an agreement that eliminates chapter 11.

The ISDS provisions, which we worked hard with people on in the CPTPP and CETA to diminish and even eliminate, are something that we have always stood against.

We believe that governments should have every right to protect the environment, to protect labour standards, and that is what we ensured with this accord.

[International Trade, October 3rd, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, we are very pleased to have eliminated chapter 11, which has cost Canadians $300 million over the years.

We know that it is important to protect the government's ability to legislate on environmental protection and labour rights.

We stood our ground to get rid of that chapter. We are very pleased that Canadians are no longer subject to it.

[International Trade, October 3rd, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, we in the House should not be surprised when the Conservatives choose to play politics.

I have to admit I am surprised on this one, given that just last year Stephen Harper and the Conservatives were imploring us to capitulate and accept any deal at any price. Stephen Harper's memo said, “It does not matter whether current American proposals are worse than what we have now”.

Over and over, the Conservatives urged us to take Harper's advice and surrender immediately. That was not our approach. We stood up for Canadians and got a good deal.

[International Trade, October 3rd, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives cannot help but play politics on big issues, but we are staying focused on Canadians.

It is wonderful to hear the Conservatives suddenly preoccupied with prescription drug costs, because they have never wanted to do anything on that.

However, we have made sure that Canadians know that we are serious about moving forward with pharmacare. We will move forward in lowering prescription drug costs for Canadians, and nothing in this deal prevents us from being able to do that for Canadians.

[International Trade, October 3rd, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, I think most Canadians understand that Sunday night was a good moment for Canadians. We secured access to our most important trading partner in a time of uncertainty. We demonstrated that our approach of standing up for Canadians and staying firm in our principles was the right one.

The relationship with the United States goes beyond politics, as it should. I want to give a specific shout-out to the many Conservatives, from Brad Wall to Scott Moe, Brian Pallister, Brian Mulroney, Kim Campbell, Jean Charest, Rona Ambrose and James Moore, who all stood up for—

[International Trade, October 3rd, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, this agreement preserves and maintains supply management. Its future is no longer in question.

With regard to market shares, we promised farmers that they would receive full and fair compensation. The changes to market access in this agreement are similar to those in the TPP, which was lauded by the Conservatives. Supply management is protected and farmers will be compensated. As always, the Conservatives are playing political games.

[Justice, October 3rd, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, our hearts go out to the family of Tori Stafford for the loss they have endured.

The offender in question was moved from maximum security to medium security in 2014 under the Conservatives. She remains in medium security today.

As reports have shown, the Corrections and Conditional Release Act does not permit politicians to make one-off decisions in regard to the placement of individual inmates. However, the minister has asked the commissioner of correctional services to review this decision to ensure that it was taken properly and in accordance with long-standing policy.

[International Trade, October 1st, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, there has been a lot of credit given to this government for negotiating this deal, but I have to say that we owe a debt of gratitude to many stakeholders and industries across this country, including the Canadian Labour Congress and Unifor.

Jerry Dias and Hassan Yussuff have worked closely with us every step of the way to ensure that this deal could be the best possible one for workers, for labour and for Canadians. That is what we are going to continue to focus on. Of course, through the ratification process, we look forward to bringing this deal to Parliament.

[International Trade, October 1st, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately the NDP is not just opposed to all trade deals but especially progressive trade deals, which is a shame. What we have moved forward with in terms of labour standards in North America is historic in terms of protecting the rights of workers. What we have moved forward with on the environment is to strengthen environmental protections and real consequences within the accord that had never been done before.

We are moving forward on a deal that works for the middle class and people working hard to join it. That is at the heart of the progressive agenda of this government and of this progressive trade deal.

[International Trade, October 1st, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, we protected supply management. After signing CETA, the CPTPP and now the USMCA, we have a process that protects and preserves our supply management system. Naturally, we will work with the dairy industry and dairy producers to ensure that there is compensation for the market share given to the U.S. However, we know that we have preserved supply management for future generations.