Stockwell Day

[Trade, June 16th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the member can ignore all the actions that we have taken to date. What he will not be able to ignore is the progress that we are making. It is very clear. We identified our position to the Americans in my discussions with Secretary of Commerce Locke, in my discussions with U.S. trade representatives, and in my meetings with the chair of the ways and means committee. We have had cross-border conferences going on between senators, MPs, between premiers and governors, and between trade associations. That is the reason we now have U.S. chambers of commerce and U.S. business associations agreeing with us on these particular points. We are making progress. He can flail away but he should join us in progress.

[Trade, June 16th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know where my friend has been on this particular file, but he obviously missed it when the Prime Minister talked with premiers to get agreement from them on how we could work together on a procurement agreement. I have talked and had a conference with the ministers of trade from the provinces and territories. I met with the executive members of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. I shared with them the approach that we were taking which they have wholeheartedly supported with a written statement. We are making progress on that. We think that Canadian producers and workers deserve access to the U.S. market and we are going to make sure that happens.

[Forestry Industry, June 15th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, it is always fair to ask the question what more could be done, but it should also be acknowledged what is being done.

On one level alone, the fact that EDC is working with over 530 forestry companies, facilitating over $8 billion worth of financial transactions in the worst time historically for the forestry industry, is very significant.

If my friend is sounding the alarm, he should do so in a responsible way. He should bring forward some ideas that may work and also acknowledge that $8 billion moving into the industry at one of the most difficult times in history is a significant amount of money.

[Trade, June 9th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the free trade agreement prohibits the federal and national levels from getting into protectionist activity. However, it does not put the same prohibitions on the state, provincial and municipal levels.

Provinces and municipalities in Canada have not lapsed into protectionist activity, but unfortunately that is happening in the states with the buy America provisions. We are hitting that at every level, including today on Capitol Hill. Our consuls general and trade commissioners are speaking to congressmen and women right through the political realm there. We are dealing with it at the administration level.

Business in the U.S. is now supporting us. The New York Times is supporting us on this, as well as the World Bank president. We are making headway—

[Trade, June 9th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, we are getting the message out around the world that the Asia-Pacific advantages that we have put in place, including infrastructure, our very competitive tax regime and a sound banking system, are an invitation to other countries to consider investing in Canada, in the Asia-Pacific in looking at their shipping opportunities. These are clearly areas that we have taken a close look at to ensure we are not off-side in any areas of trade.

We are proud of what we have done with the Asia-Pacific initiatives. It gives a great advantage to Canadians and a great advantage to people wanting to do business with Canada.

[International Trade, June 8th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, it sounds like my hon. friend was not in attendance at the convention of municipalities and mayors. I was there over this weekend. I was pleased to not only be there, but also to read the reports when it ended. Clearly the municipalities are backing the strategy we have been taking at every level.

On Friday, I spoke again with the chairman of the ways and means committee in the United States and also the secretary of commerce. Tomorrow, there will be trade commissioners and people from our embassy having a full day of campaign on this on the Hill. It will continue.

[International Trade, June 8th, 2009]

We are concerned about the Buy American situation in the United States. That is why we developed a strategy to present our concerns to the Americans a few weeks ago. I will give another example. I was at the municipal conference three days ago to get the support of municipalities from across the country, to present our message, and tomorrow, there will be another campaign, in Washington, with all of our trade advisors.

[Trade, June 4th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, my hon. friend is not only hopelessly inaccurate on this file; he is way behind on it. Halton Hills, in fact, has not shut down goods coming into its area. There is a resolution coming to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, which is taking place this week. We have been engaged on this. I and a number of my colleagues will be speaking there. This is an important issue.

What we need is a coordinated effort. We have seen that across many fronts, including the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, the chambers of commerce and a variety of others. What we do not need is uninformed fragmentation. We need to work together on this to achieve our goals.

[Trade, June 4th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I am glad to welcome my colleague, finally, to the fight on this issue.

We have been engaged with this for a number of weeks now at every conceivable level, the diplomatic level through our embassy, myself with the U.S. trade representative and the secretary of commerce and other colleagues in terms of their responsibilities. We have business organizations on both sides of the border that are taking this issue both to Congress and to the administration. I have met with the chairman of the ways and means committee. Municipalities are engaged now as are governors.

We are going to win this, but it is going to take some time.

[Forest Industry, June 4th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I would say as well that we asked the question. We will determine, of course, whether we can legally give the letter he mentioned to the public and the members of the House. As soon as we get an opinion, I hope we will be able to table the letter.