Mr. Raymond Skelly (North Island -Powell River):

Madam Speaker, we in this caucus also wish to congratulate the new Socred Prime Minister of Canada.

In this political leadership contest the new Socred Prime Minister narrowly defeated the tortoise from Sherbrooke. However in another leadership contest a number of years ago this Socred Prime Minister of Canada was judged by her peers as less competent and less capable than another well-known Socred, Bill Vand-er Zalm.

The Prime Minister is also the first woman Prime Minister of Canada. However she has failed the women of Canada on the Court Challenges Program, on the choice issue, on the national child care program and on pay equity.

The women of Canada will suffer under this new Prime Minister as will Canadians in general. The fact she is a Socred is more important than the fact she is a woman.

At least we can all be thankful that this new captain of the Titanic and this old Tory government will shortly have an appointment with an iceberg.

Mr. Ken James (Sarnia -Lambton):

Madam Speaker,

I too would like to congratulate our new Progressive Conservative leader, the Lion. Kim Campbell. I know that she and all members of the House will be interested in my statement today.

I rise today to bring to the attention of all members of the House and indeed all Canadians, the activities and efforts of the Breast Cancer Society of Canada. The goal of the society is to fund research into the prevention, detection, treatment and the cure of breast cancer.

At this time the group needs computers, supplies,

equipment and so on. But what the Breast Cancer Society of Canada needs most is the time and dedication of interested volunteers, Canadians from coast to coast, to make this a truly national effort and organization.

If members of the House or Canadians across the country are interested in information on becoming a part of the Breast Cancer Society of Canada they should contact the president, Mr. Lawrence Greenaway, at 401 St. Clair Street, Point Edward, Ontario, N7V 1P2, or call the national headquarters at 1-800-567-8767.

Today I encourage all Canadians to get involved in this worthy cause.

Hon. Roy MacLaren (Etobicoke North):

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Liberal Party and our leader, I would like to offer congratulations to the Minister of National Defence on her election as leader of the Conservative Party.

Hear, hear.

Mr. MacLaren:

Let me also congratulate her challengers, in particular the Minister of the Environment, for their spirited campaigns.

Hear, hear.

Mr. MacLaren:

Madam Speaker, my question is for the Minister for International Trade. President Clinton has now admitted that the negotiation of side agreements to the NAFTA is "at an impasse". The United States is demanding that tough trade sanctions be included, but so far Canada has opposed any such plan.

Canadians deserve a clear answer to this question. Is it the policy of the government that it will refuse to proclaim NAFTA rather than accept trade sanctions, yes or no?

June 14, 1993

Hon. Michael Wilson (Minister of Industry, Science and Technology and Minister for International Trade):

First, Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his gracious remarks on behalf of his party. I am sure the Minister of National Defence, the Minister of the Environment and the members of caucus who were candidates in the leadership are most appreciative of his remarks. It was a very stimulating and successful weekend. I am sure there are major challenges ahead for all of us and we look forward to those challenges.

Let me respond to the question the hon. member has posed on the matter of sanctions. We have made it very clear that the agreements on the environment and on labour should be subject to some form of mechanism to ensure compliance. We have stated very clearly that we are opposed to trade sanctions. However, we have asked to see whether the negotiators can find some common ground that would satisfy the needs of all parties in order to ensure there is compliance with the agreement.

Hon. Roy MacLaren (Etobicoke North):

Madam Speaker, the minister has claimed repeatedly that the NAFTA will not be altered by the side agreements. However, the United States administration is now demanding a third side agreement, an agreement on import surges.

The minister knows that such an agreement would modify the existing provisions of NAFTA which could in turn require amendments to the Canadian legislation which the government recently pressed through the House of Commons.

How can the minister continue to assert that the side agreements will not affect the nature of NAFTA?

Hon. Michael Wilson (Minister of Industry, Science and Technology and Minister for International Trade):

will say it again for the benefit of my hon. friend and others. All three governments are committed to not reopening the NAFTA.

We believe, and it has been said by the United States itself, that sections 701 and 702 of the NAFTA provide very strong protection on import surges. The proposals the United States put forward may enhance the nature of those, but they certainly will not result in the reopening of the agreement itself.

Hon. Roy MacLaren (Etobicoke North):

Madam Speaker, the minister knows a prerequisite for Cana-

Oral Questions

dians to benefit from any freer trade is to remove the barriers within our own country to the free movement of people, goods, services and capital.

However five years after the U.S.-Canada free trade agreement the British Columbia government has said that provincial regulations concerning regional development and local jobs are non-negotiable.

Is the government prepared to say today that it will move unilaterally on free trade within Canada to meet its own deadline of June 1994?

Hon. Michael Wilson (Minister of Industry, Science and Technology and Minister for International TVade):

Madam Speaker, that deadline has been set in consultation with the provinces. As my hon. friend has just pointed out, these are provincial barriers that must be eliminated with the full consultation and co-operation of the provincial governments.

Collectively we have approved a comprehensive negotiating process supported by all the provinces, including British Columbia. It is in that regard we will be commencing negotiations starting July 1.

We expect that even though the number of barriers we have to negotiate is formidable we can, with the proper will and the power to all concerned, meet the deadlines we have set out.

I could not agree more with what my hon. friend has said. It is very important that we have free trade within our borders as we see our boundaries open up with the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement and NAFTA, but also with the Uruguay round that is going to be with us in a very short period of time.

Mr. Bob Speller (Haldimand-Norfolk):

Madam Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister for International Trade. We know that the U.S. Congress does not intend to approve NAFTA. Why does the minister refuse to negotiate a binational agreement to protect jobs in the steel industry? Why?

Hon. Michael Wilson (Minister of Industry, Science and Technology and Minister for International Trade):

Madam Speaker, the hon. member is well aware of the efforts this government has gone to in order to seek the support of the United States steel industry, the United States unions and the United States administration.

June 14, 1993

Oral Questions

Unfortunately at this point in time they are not willing to discuss this matter. It is something we continue to press with the administration at the government level. We have also asked the companies and the unions at every opportunity they can to propose the same sort of discussion and dialogue with their counterparts.

I am hopeful once we get through the trade remedy actions that are under way we can see some movement in this file.

Mr. Bob Speller (Haldimand-Norfolk):

Madam Speaker, the minister must know that literally thousands of jobs in my riding, throughout Ontario, the maritimes, Quebec and the west are dependent on the Canadian steel industry.

He knows he has options. He knows he could make an extraordinary challenge under the GATT. He knows he could replace the chairman of the tribunal.

Why will the minister not act now to save these Canadian jobs and to tell the world that Canada is not a dumping ground for steel?

Hon. Michael Wilson (Minister of Industry, Science and Technology and Minister for International Tirade):

Madam Speaker, most people in the House would understand that the options my friend has just put forward are not workable options if one would think about them for just one minute.