Government Appointments  Mr. Speaker, let me remind my hon. colleague of what the leader of his party said when Stéphane left the House. She described him as a Canadian who understood the issues in minute detail and was prepared to vigorously defend his positions. As for the orders in council, it was a procedural step, and each appointee will receive two orders in council.

Government Appointments  Mr. Speaker, speaking on behalf of our diplomats and our fine ambassadors, to be an ambassador serving Canada around the world is no consolation prize. It is one of the highest honours that we can confer on a Canadian.

Regional Economic Development  Mr. Speaker, since this is my first response to the Conservatives in a few days, I would like to begin by thanking the members for Thornhill and Parry Sound—Muskoka for comments they made this week. We do not always agree, but I am proud that Canada has an official opposition that can rise above partisanship to defend our democracy.

International Trade  Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to assure the member opposite that I will fight for precisely that. I have had several meetings with labour representatives, with representatives of our auto parts sector, and we are very aligned on fighting for a great deal for Canada. I am confident we can do it, because that is our government's record on trade.

International Trade  Mr. Speaker, I would like to start by reminding the member opposite and everyone in the House that NAFTA negotiations have not yet begun and now is not the time for us to prematurely lead our cards on the table. I want to assure everyone that we will continue to get a great deal for Canadians and our record proves it.

Foreign Affairs  Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for her question. On June 17, 2016, this government tabled the Arms Trade Treaty in the House of Commons, something that the previous Conservative government failed to do. We are delivering on our commitment to Canadians to promote responsibility, transparency, and accountability.

Foreign Affairs  Mr. Speaker, I would like to quote the leader of the official opposition. In January, she said: Canadians...want and need passionate people to represent them, people who...understand the issues in minute detail, and vigorously defend their positions. Speaking of Monsieur Dion, she added, “The member opposite epitomized all that and more”.

Foreign Affairs  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question. We are working hard to ensure that our children will inherit a world free of nuclear weapons. That means making tangible progress. Under our government, for the first time, Canada rallied 177 states to support a United Nations resolution calling for a fissile material cut-off treaty.

Foreign Affairs  Mr. Speaker, as I hope the hon. member for Thornhill will have the honour to recognize, our government and I personally stand very strongly in support of Ukraine. That is why I was absolutely delighted for us to extend Operation Unifier. We are there in Ukraine, as is the U.S., as is the U.K., with our 200 men and women in uniform.

Foreign Affairs  Mr. Speaker, yet again I would like to say that I believe Canadians of all parties, the Conservatives, the Liberals, and the NDP, stand together in our support of Ukraine. That is why we had unanimous support in this House for the Canada–Ukraine free trade agreement. Our government, I personally, and the Prime Minister stand absolutely firmly in support of Ukraine.

Foreign Affairs  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague and friend for Etobicoke Centre for his hard work on this file and his hard work for his constituents. I was so proud today, standing beside my colleague, the Minister of National Defence to announce that Canada is indeed renewing Operation Unifier, a critical piece of our multi-faceted support for Ukraine.

International Trade  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for the question. Yesterday was an important day. We put a lot of effort into it. As the President of the United States said, “We have a very outstanding trade relationship with Canada.” That statement is very important to Canada, our workers, and our businesses.

International Trade  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question. Our government will continue to defend our farmers, our producers, and their families. We will continue to defend Canada's forestry industry, and that includes Quebec's forestry industry. Yesterday in Washington, we were strong and proud as we championed our farmers, our producers, and our forestry industry.

International Trade  Mr. Speaker, our government will continue to stand up for our farmers, producers, and their families. In Washington yesterday and in the meeting with Speaker Paul Ryan, I strongly defended our dairy sector, as I always do and as I am proud to do. We will look out for the interests of Canadians and their jobs.

International Trade  Mr. Speaker, let me remind the House that the previous Conservative government allowed the old agreement to expire. Our government is vigorously defending the interests of Canadian softwood workers and producers. In Washington last week with Secretary Tillerson I defended our producers, and yesterday in Washington the Prime Minister did that with energy and vigour, and I did too.