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.

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.

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

Madam Speaker, like the hon. members, we are disappointed in the decision that has been handed down by the panel. I should say to my hon. friend that the circumstances in this particular panel were different from previous panels where we were successful.

We as always have tried to work with the industries involved and with the provinces where they have taken an active part in putting our best foot forward. We will continue to do so in any of these situations that get referred to free trade panels.

June 14, 1993

The simple answer to my hon. friend's question is yes, we have something with the free trade panel system that no other country has today and it has served us very well in this country.

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. 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.