Mary Ng

[Canada-U.S. Relations, November 26th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with the hon. member as he is my hon. critic.

In a relationship as large and significant as the one that Canada has with the United States, of course there are challenges. However, we have worked together over many years to resolve many of these challenges and we have been successful. We are going to do that again here, whether it is with electric vehicles, softwood lumber or in our relationship in fighting the things we have in common, like climate change and finishing the fight against COVID-19.

Let me be clear: We are always going to have the backs of Canadian workers and businesses. We have always done it. Today is no different. We are always going to do it.

[Canada-U.S. Relations, November 25th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, let me answer the other question that the hon. member raised with respect to electric vehicles. This was very much a top priority in the discussions we had with Washington last week. The Prime Minister has had them, as have the Deputy Prime Minister and myself, along with colleagues.

We are going to continue to find solutions that work for Canadians. Whether it is on the EV issue or on the softwood lumber issue, we are going to be there every step of the way. We are going to work to find solutions that are going to be acceptable to Canada, to our industry and to our workers.

[Forestry Industry, November 25th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is absolutely right. This is a very important sector to Canada and to Quebeckers. I want to assure him; I want to assure forestry workers and I want to assure the forestry industry that we will continue to defend them. These duties are unjustified, they are unfair and they do hurt workers on both sides of the border. I have communicated this to my counterpart.

We are going to continue to stand up for the Canadian forestry sector, and we are going to keep doing this work.

[Canada-U.S. Relations, November 25th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, I absolutely share the impassioned plea that my colleague and the member opposite have shared. We, too, want to ensure that Canada's forestry sector and its workers are absolutely defended. We have said consistently that these tariffs are unfair and unwarranted, whether at the CUSMA panel or at the WTO. We have litigated this and in those litigations Canada has won. We have been deemed to be fair trading partners. We are going to keep standing up for those workers and the forestry sector.

[Canada-U.S. Relations, November 25th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, we will remain focused on defending the sector and its workers. Within the forestry sector, I have had an opportunity to spend time with workers as well as the industry. We are working together on this and using a team Canada approach. It has proven to work well when we are able to work with those who are directly affected.

We will continue to push and work with the Americans, as well as with Canada's sectors, but know that we will always defend Canada's interests.

[Canada-U.S. Relations, November 25th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, let me first begin by saying I welcome the opportunity to continue working with my hon. colleague in his critic file on trade, and I look forward to that work.

Softwood lumber, the forestry sector and its workers are extremely important to Canada. It is an issue that was raised not only by the Prime Minister with the President, but also by me with my colleague in the USTR. My colleagues have raised this with their counterparts as well.

I would like members to know that it is an issue we will continue to work on to defend the interests of the sectors and the workers. We will continue to do that, and I look forward to working with my colleague.

[Canada-U.S. Relations, November 25th, 2021]

Our government has consistently stood up for Canadian businesses and workers. We are going to keep doing that every day.

[Canada-U.S. Relations, November 25th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, we are not going to take any lessons from the Conservatives when it comes to defending Canadian interests. When we retaliated against unfair U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs, the leader of the opposition urged us to stop fighting back. When we were negotiating for a better CUSMA deal, the Conservatives wanted Canada to capitulate to U.S. demands.

[Canada-U.S. Relations, November 25th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, this issue is top priority for our government. It is why we have pursued litigation under chapter 10 of CUSMA. This is only possible because our government fought hard to keep the dispute settlement mechanism in the new trade agreement so we can stand up for Canadians, just like we are doing now.

Meanwhile, the Conservatives urged Canada to capitulate to Donald Trump's demands and to settle for a weaker deal. Unlike the Conservatives, our government will always have the backs of Canadian businesses and workers.

[Canada-U.S. Relations, November 25th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, the forestry sector and its workers are extremely important to our government, and we will continue to defend their interests to the Americans. We raised this issue with the President of the United States last week. I raised this issue with my counterpart, the United States trade representative.

I think this government's record in standing up for Canadian businesses, in negotiating a trade agreement that works for Canada and improves North American competitiveness, is the record that we stand on. I will not take any lessons on asking us to capitulate to the former president.