Brison Report - Friday, May 15, 2009

Friday, May 15, 2009

The last week in Ottawa…

Scott delivered a statement in the House last Friday congratulating Acadia University for all Spring convocation honourary degree recipients being women in recognition of the 125th anniversary of Acadia's first female graduate.  Read the full statement HERE. 

Scott attended Acadia Convocation on Sunday afternoon.

Monday, May 11

Scott returned to Ottawa in the morning where the House was sitting all week.

- Questioned the Trade Minister on the failure of this government to react to U.S. laws preventing Canadian companies from selling their goods and services to U.S. state and local governments.

Scott said: 

The fact is that state level and local government contracts are not covered by our Canadian trade agreements. The U.S. has asked Canada to change this but that would actually require the Prime Minister to work with the provinces. When will the Prime Minister show some leadership and work with the provinces to change our trade agreements? When will the Conservatives actually take action to protect Canadians jobs against American protectionism?

Read the entire questions HERE.

- Meeting with representatives of the Organization of CANDU Industries

- Meeting with representatives of the David Suzuki Foundation

Tuesday, May 12

- Meeting of the Liberal Rural Caucus

- Meeting of the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade

- Meeting with representatives of the Forest Products Association of Canada

- Meeting with representatives of Frito Lay Canada

Wednesday, May 13

- Meeting of the Liberal Nova Scotia, Atlantic and then the National Liberal Caucus

- Meeting with the Board of Directors of the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC)

- Meeting with representatives of Canadian Pacific

- Meeting with representatives of the Dairy Farmers of Canada

Thursday, May 14

- Meeting of the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade
- Briefing with officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
- Questioned the Agriculture Minister during estimates debate on supply management, funding for the Kentville Research Station, protecting agricultural lands through landbanking, and U.S. country-of-origin labelling (COOL).

Scott said:

The Atlantic Food and Horticultural Research Station in Kentville, Nova Scotia is vital to Atlantic Canada's food and horticultural industry. The Conservative government is quietly gutting the centre's capacity through attrition and cutting operational funds. The centre's employees, in fact, as they leave or retire, are not being replaced. Modern agriculture needs modern science. Will the minister commit to the long-term viability of the centre and to restore all of its operational funding so that the centre can continue to meet the important needs of Atlantic Canada's horticultural community?Read the entire questions HERE.