Settlement of International Investment Disputes Act  Mr. Speaker, again, I appreciate the concerns raised by the hon. member. One needs to recognize, as I have said before, the premise of how this all operates. Canada is trading nation. We must acknowledge that. With the population of 32 million, the only way we can sustain our quality of life is to ensure we have proper trade and investment.

Settlement of International Investment Disputes Act  Mr. Speaker, what my colleague touches upon is very important. It is a trend that we have seen now with the current Conservative government of incompetence. It is really rooted in the fact that the Conservatives make policy decisions based on political expediency. They develop poor public policy around the fact that they can get around the Canadian public by developing gimmicks, but it has caught up to them.

Settlement of International Investment Disputes Act  Mr. Speaker, I understand the concerns raised by the hon. member. With respect to free trade and investment, I think the member understands full well that we are a trading nation with a population of 32 million and to ensure our quality of life we need to trade with other nations.

Settlement of International Investment Disputes Act  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank you for allowing me to speak today to Bill C-53, An Act to implement the Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of Other States (ICSID Convention). To begin with, it is interesting that the Conservatives are introducing a bill to promote cross-border investment at a time when they are demonstrating their complete lack of competence on this very important subject matter.

Budget Implementation Act, 2007  Mr. Speaker, we brought forth a very comprehensive tax policy when we were in government, a tax policy that looked at the lowest-earning income segment of society, ensuring we got people off the rolls so they did not have to pay taxes. We reduced personal income tax amounts for the lowest threshold as well.

Budget Implementation Act, 2007  Mr. Speaker, the passion illustrated by my colleague shows the frustration with the government's consistent pattern of breaking promises. The VIP should be extended. This is an issue that speaks to the government's style as put forth by the Conservative Party. It is a style that pits province against province, the wealthy against the poor.

Budget Implementation Act, 2007  Mr. Speaker, I greatly appreciate the opportunity to speak to Bill C-52, the budget implementation act. As I stand here today to represent the concerns of my constituents of Mississauga—Brampton South with respect to the 2007 federal budget, my comments and remarks will focus on three areas: economic competitiveness; social issues and the lack of social investment; and how the budget has damaged our reputation abroad.

Softwood Lumber  Mr. Speaker, we all know the government is a one man show, but will the trade minister demonstrate some political courage and admit the softwood deal is flawed? Today, we find out the U.S. trade representative, Susan Schwab, is in Ottawa to meet with the Minister of International Trade, in secret.

Softwood Lumber  Mr. Speaker, the Minister of International Trade claimed the softwood lumber agreement was “far better than litigation”. The U.S. has criticized our domestic softwood lumber policies. We have had one consultation meeting and it is clearly apparent that we are going to arbitration, in other words, back to court.

Taxation  Mr. Speaker, the business community is telling the finance minister that he needs a little more on the job training. It is outraged because the government started its competition process on the removal of foreign interest deductibility only after the policy was announced. By disenfranchising Canadian companies, how are Canadians supposed to compete in emerging and established economies?

Taxation  Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance has no problem with foreign companies taking over Canadian companies but he does have a fundamental problem with Canadians companies trying to expand abroad. The Minister of Finance has been scrambling to reverse his policy for eliminating the interest deductibility tax.

Softwood Lumber  Mr. Speaker, on April 19 the United States and Canada met for formal consultations on the softwood lumber agreement to try to resolve their differences. Seven months into the agreement, the U.S. is questioning whether certain Canadian federal and provincial assistance programs violate the agreement.

National Blood Donor Week Act  Mr. Speaker, the member highlights a very important element of the awareness campaign we need to pursue if Bill S-214 passes the House and we create an act respecting a national blood donor week. Many new Canadians who come to Canada have had a negative experience or a bad experience about donating blood.

National Blood Donor Week Act  moved that Bill S-214, An Act respecting a National Blood Donor Week, be read the second time and referred to a committee. Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to speak today at the second reading stage of Bill S-214, An Act respecting a National Blood Donor Week. The World Health Organization celebrates World Blood Donor Day on June 14 every year, at which time 192 WHO members and over 200 volunteer blood donor organizations lend their support to this cause.

Trade  Mr. Speaker, in a recent report the Canadian Chamber of Commerce sounded the alarm over the government's miserable performance with trade and investment with India. It gets worse. Canada's reputation abroad is being severely damaged. The government has slashed millions from trade programs, eliminated the CAN-Trade initiative, and is closing consular services in key emerging markets.