Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, New Democrats believe that the magnitude of this deal and the potential impacts of increasing foreign investment by state-owned enterprises in the energy sector necessitates that the government consult with Canadians rather than grant approval through a secretive and unaccountable review.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to be sharing my time with the member for Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher. I think all Canadians understand the importance of investment in Canada and conversely the investment by Canadian firms in the rest of the world. I also think that Canadians understand the need to develop economic policy in this country that is capable of reflecting a multi-factored and nuanced approach.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, listening to the Liberals accuse the Conservatives of breaking promises is like listening to Mike Tyson give sensitivity training to the member for Calgary West. The gratuitous shots taken at the New Democratic Party for consistently standing up for good trade agreements in this country for 25 years are really something.

International Trade  Mr. Speaker, crucial negotiations continue this week on the Canada-EU trade deal, but Canadians are being kept in the dark. Provincial governments have been clear. They do not want higher drug costs downloaded onto their already stretched budgets. Seniors are worried they will not get the medications they need.

International Trade  Mr. Speaker, a government cannot refuse to answer questions and claim to be open and transparent. This deal could really hurt Canadians and seniors. A report released yesterday said that it could increase Ontario's drug costs by $1.2 billion a year. We should be advancing Canada's interests in trade agreements, not pushing misguided policies that Canadians do not support.

International Trade  Mr. Speaker, the New Democrats and Canadians believe that we should strengthen our trade relations with the European Union. This week, European negotiators are back in Ottawa for another round of talks. However, because these negotiations are shrouded in secrecy, Canadians in local communities are worried about what the Conservatives may be trading away, like making prescription drugs more expensive by keeping generic drugs off the market for longer.

International Trade  Mr. Speaker, leaked documents is not a way to conduct transparency. Under the Conservative watch, our trade deficit has skyrocketed. Canada hit a record $2.3 billion trade deficit in July alone and Canadian exports keep falling. This trade deal could hit Canadians hard. Some studies have estimated that it will cost Canadian drug plans and provinces, employers and citizens almost $3 billion a year.

Seniors  Mr. Speaker, every September before Parliament resumes, I meet with the seniors at Chelsea Park to seek their input and advice on what they think our federal government should be doing. These folks come from all walks of life and have a deep well of experience and knowledge. They have a strong love of Canada and a desire to see a nation that works for every Canadian.

Petitions  Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present. The first petition is from hundreds of petitioners who would like the government to ban the sale and use of shock collars on animals. They point out that the use of electric shocks on any sentient being is inhumane and poses serious risks to an animal's well-being.

Petitions  Mr. Speaker, the second petition is from petitioners all over British Columbia who would like to keep section 35(1) of the Fisheries Act so that we can ensure that fish habitat protection is kept in our legislation to preserve our fish stocks.

International Trade  Mr. Speaker, the government says that the TPP talks are in a preliminary stage. The fact is that there have been 12 rounds of negotiations, and Canada will not be allowed to join the 13th in July. In contrast, the Conservatives claim that the CIDA negotiations are nearing completion, and that is after only nine rounds.

Canada-Panama Economic Growth and Prosperity Act  Madam Speaker, if it is the case that there are some data that trade agreements do have the effect of raising labour and environmental standards, why did the member's government refuse to put in those kinds of evaluation efforts in agreements like the recent Jordan agreement? Could the member share with this House the data he has seen that show that trade agreements do have that positive effect?

International Trade  Mr. Speaker, it is a basic principle of negotiation that one does not communicate desperation to adversaries, and yet that is exactly what the Prime Minister has done in the trans-Pacific partnership. In their panic, what exactly have the Conservatives given away? Did we agree to have no voice on past decisions and no real power in future negotiations?

International Trade  Mr. Speaker, we go from ethical breaches to behind closed doors. The Prime Minister has taken the unusual step of sending his chief of staff to negotiate for Canada on the trans-Pacific partnership. We know that Canada has been asked to make substantial concessions to be part of the TPP, and Canadians want to know if the government has now agreed to drive up drug costs with longer patent protection, weaken intellectual property rules or sell out milk and egg producers who rely on supply management to make ends meet.

International Trade  Mr. Speaker, how about a trade deal that benefits Canadians? The fact is that the minister just appointed a panel of trade advisers without one single defender of supply management. Three out of ten are actually opposed, and John Manley even called supply management “an obstacle”.