Robert Bouchard

[Forestry Industry, April 28th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, AbitibiBowater just announced that it is not going to renew its supply contract with SFK Pâte, in Saint-Félicien. Such is the effect in our regions of the government's inaction, which refuses to help forestry companies that are experiencing difficulties.

Is the Minister of State responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec waiting for the regions to shut down one after the other before providing concrete solutions to forestry companies, including loan guarantees?

[Forestry Industry, April 27th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the minister's job is to support Canada's defence of the forestry industry, not the opposite. His words bolster the American position and undermine Canada's arguments in London.

Is the minister aware that he is adding weight to the American claims when he says that loan guarantees are illegal? That is not the minister's job.

[Forestry Industry, April 27th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the government's assistance plan for forestry companies is not enough, but that has not prevented the Minister of Finance from going abroad to tell everyone about it. The plan includes $2.7 billion in loan guarantees for the automotive industry in Ontario, but the government is refusing to give the forestry industry the same treatment.

Can the economic development minister explain why loan guarantees, which are legal for the automotive industry, would not be legal for the forestry industry?

[Forestry Industry, April 21st, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, on the softwood lumber issue, the United States has—from day one—systematically challenged every government support measure, in order to undermine businesses in Quebec and Canada. Government inaction, whether under the Conservatives or the Liberals, has assured the U.S. industry that, even if it were to lose at arbitration, irreversible damages would be caused to the industry in Quebec and Canada.

How can the Prime Minister, who pleaded in favour of loan guarantees during the 2006 election campaign, now be complicit to this U.S. strategy by refusing to grant loan guarantees to the forestry industry, which is going through an unprecedented crisis?

[Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, April 20th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate my colleague on his speech. I have a brief question.

I would like to know if the companies that set up shop in Peru or in neighbouring countries—mining companies, for example—will be expected to comply with Canadian laws or the laws of the country in which they are operating. I would like more information about that. What responsibilities will they have to the people in terms of the environment?

[Forestry Industry, April 20th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, in a press conference, a minister from my region finally admitted that time is running out and forestry workers are being left with nothing. In the automobile sector, the government recognized the seriousness of the situation in four weeks. For the forestry sector, it has taken four years so far.

Will the government take another four years to recognize that the solution lies in loan guarantees, or will it finally come to its senses and act immediately?

[Forestry Industry, April 20th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, last Friday, the elected officials of my riding reached a consensus on what to do to help the forestry sector. The two Conservative ministers were mandated to obtain loan guarantees, as the government did for the auto sector.

Did the government receive the message and will it now commit to offering loan guarantees to the forestry sector, yes or no?

[Loan guarantees, March 26th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the options available to AbitibiBowater are clearly loan guarantees, but the Minister of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec) is hiding behind the United States' lawsuit in order to say nothing. Instead, he should be listening to elected representatives from his region, people such as the mayor of La Doré who is demanding loan guarantees and who maintains that that kind of assistance does not contravene the Softwood Lumber Agreement.

Instead of slavishly taking the United States' position, will the minister stand up, listen to elected representatives from his region and give them the loan guarantees they are calling for?

[Forestry Industry, March 24th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, forestry companies are clamouring for loan guarantees to weather the crisis.

If EDC loan guarantees are legal for forestry companies that export, why are the same loan guarantees to help the forestry industry weather the crisis not legal?

[Forestry Industry, March 24th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of International Trade stated that “Export Development Canada is working with more than 90% of forestry companies.”

Will the minister explain what yesterday's statement really meant?