Mr. Speaker:

I have the honour to lay upon the table, the report of the Parliamentary Librarian for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1988.

Hon. Doug Lewis (Minister of State and Minister of State (Treasury Board) and Acting President of the Treasury Board):

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, copies of the 1989 Federal Regulatory Plan.

While 1 am on my feet, I move:

That the House do now proceed to Orders of the Day.

Mr. Speaker:

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

Agreed.

No.

Mr. Speaker:

All those in favour of the motion will please say yea.

Yea.

Mr. Speaker:

All those opposed will please say nay.

Nay.

Mr. Speaker:

In my opinion the yeas have it.

And more than five Members having risen:

Mr. Speaker:

Call in the Members.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Champagne):

I declare the motion carried.

Motion carried.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Champagne):

Pursuant to Standing Order 100, I do now leave the chair for the Elouse to go into Committee of the Whole.

House in committee on Bill C-2, an Act to implement the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the United States of America-Mr. Crosbie-Mrs. Champagne in the chair.

On Clause 2-Definitions

Mr. McDermid:

Madam Chairman, I want to put a few opening remarks on the record before we get into the study of Clause 2. Bill C-2 implements the free trade deal by approving the agreement and amending those laws necessary to meet our obligation under the agreement.

The Free Trade Agreement was considered on six opposition days and by the Commons Committee on External Affairs and International Trade, which heard 158 witnesses over 24 days. Those witnesses represented millions of Canadians.

Legislation to implement the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement was first introduced in Parliament on May 24, 1988. That legislation, Bill C-130, was given second reading on July 6, having been debated for more than 28 hours.

Bill C-130 was given consideration by legislative committee from July 11 to August 4, during which time 59 witnesses were heard over more than 87 hours. Again, the 59 witnesses represented millions of Canadians.

That legislation was given third reading on August 31, having been debated for more than 14 hours.

Today, Committee of the Whole begins consideration of Bill C-2. This legislation is similar, except for some technical amendments, to Bill C-130. Essentially, detailed clause by clause examination of the legislation was carried out earlier this year. The opposition Parties want to amend the legislation, they say, to protect social programs, regional development, culture and the environment. The Government feels that no such

December 20, 1988

amendments are needed because free trade poses no threat to these.

Social programs are not affected by the agreement. We remain as free as ever to support regional development. Cultural industries are exempted from the agreement. The agreement specifically exempts from its obligations measures to protect the environment.

The Opposition has asserted to the contrary, but this is based on their misreading and distortion of the agreement. They made those assertions in the recent election campaign and alarmed many Canadians. But the alarm that was raised makes the Opposition's assertions no more valid.

In the end, the Canadian people put aside these alarms and returned this Government with a majority. We are now prepared to examine Bill C-2 in Committee of the Whole over the next period of time. I look forward to the questions.

I might say that the Minister for International Trade will participate in the clause by clause discussions at a later time today. We will be spelling one another off during the period of time we are studying this Bill clause by clause. I look forward to the discussions.

Mr. Axworthy (Winnipeg South Centre):

Madam Chairman, let me say at the outset that I note one small but significant improvement in the consideration of this legislation over the examination we had last summer. It is that the Hon. Minister for housing suggested that his colleague, the Minister for International Trade, may join us for the proceedings from time to time. That will certainly be a refreshing change from what we had last-