IN THE HOUSE ~ Question ~ Will this government launch public consultations on the impact of a Nexen takeover?

41st Parliament, 1st Session

Context : Supplementary Question

Mr. Peter Julian (Burnaby—New Westminster, NDP): Mr. Speaker, it is in the best interests of Canadians to actually hold public consultations.

It is a few days away from the deadline. We are still waiting for the Conservatives to define net benefit, something they have been promising since 2010, and we have
seen the consequences of inaction on this when we have watched companies Vale
Inco break their promises with impunity. Canadians deserve better than that.

Will the minister launch public consultation on the impact of a Nexen takeover, and will he listen to Canadians?

Hon. Christian Paradis (Minister of Industry and Minister of State (Agriculture), CPC): Mr. Speaker, we always act in the best interests of Canadians. What my colleague proposes is to shut down any single form of investment in this country.

We have the articles within the Act. The hon. member can read it. He has the factors taken into account to determine whether a transaction will provide a net
benefit or not.

We improved the Act. In 2007 we put new guidelines for state-owned enterprises. We put in also new provisions for national security issues and in 2012, we put
more tools to better communicate with the public, and the NDP always voted
against these provisions.