Evidence of meeting #7 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was ceta.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:20 p.m.
An hon. member
I think he did. It's a little metaphor.
4:20 p.m.
Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
The arrangements we were looking at with China were based on meat and oils, so I think the pelts were already getting access.
I will turn to some of my colleagues.
What's the status on the pelt market in China? Do they still have access?
4:20 p.m.
Acting Director General of External Relations, International Trade and Market, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Yes, pelts are permitted. As Mr. Bevan alluded, there was an agreement on products initialled in 2011, but pelts are permitted.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
Robert Sopuck Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette, MB
Are seal pelt prices in China quite high? What's the price per pelt?
4:20 p.m.
Acting Director General of External Relations, International Trade and Market, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
I'd have to get back to you on that to provide a reliable response.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
Robert Sopuck Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette, MB
I think that it would have seen a similar price rise. Muskrats, for example, five years ago went from $1.50 to $13.00, which is a ridiculous rise in price. Why haven't we seen a similar rise in price—or perhaps we have—in seal pelts?
4:20 p.m.
Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
I guess it's a supply and demand issue. At one point a few years back, pelts were being sold into the market for $100. They're back down to considerably less than that. That was the price for a sealer. We've just seen that the restriction on market access is not commensurate with...that's dropped our markets below the supply, and we all know what happens there.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
December 5th, 2013 / 4:20 p.m.
NDP
Philip Toone NDP Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
If we can get back to some more questions on seals, during the negotiations on free trade with Europe, did DFAIT ever ask Fisheries and Oceans what their position was? Did Fisheries and Oceans ever produce any reports for our trade negotiators?
4:20 p.m.
Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
We provided a lot of data relevant to the seal population, seal hunt practices, how we monitored it, how we manage it, the humaneness of it, the changes to the marine mammal regulations, the three-step process, etc. Part of the discussions was whether or not it would be separated from the CETA and handled under a separate process, but at the end of the day, that's a decision of the Government of Canada as to how it was going to be linked or not to CETA and whether or not we would want to lump it in or have a separate process.
If we didn't have a separate process, then it's not clear what the outcome would have been. Certainly, we still have rules that are going to be interpreted by the WTO that we would like to appeal to a higher level. We were engaged in the consultations, but at the end of the day, that's a decision of the Government of Canada relevant to the overall benefits and the consequences, or the issue on seals and how it's being handled separately.
4:25 p.m.
NDP
Philip Toone NDP Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
Did the information you provided to DFAIT include any elements regarding marketability of the seal products? Did it discuss, for instance, omega-3 oils and any interest there might be in the European market for that product?
4:25 p.m.
Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
They are fully aware of everything to do with seals, because they're the ones leading the WTO issue. They're the ones making the case. They've been aware of all the details of the seal industry, the nature of it, how it's controlled, what the products are, etc.
4:25 p.m.
NDP
Philip Toone NDP Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
When was the last time that DFAIT actually made a request for information from DFO regarding using seal products?
4:25 p.m.
Acting Director General of External Relations, International Trade and Market, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
We're in constant contact in terms of providing information to DFAIT. They know, for example, that between 2004 and 2010, we exported $70 million in seal products to 35 countries. Obviously, as Mr. Bevan remarked, the market has fallen off somewhat, although the landed value for this year has come back a little bit, which is a positive sign.
We're in constant contact with them, and they are aware of the facts. We share information with them on an ongoing basis. We have to be in close cooperation to correct the misinformation that's purveyed by some animal rights groups.
4:25 p.m.
NDP
Philip Toone NDP Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
In an analogous situation, are there any discussions going on with the Trans-Pacific Partnership regarding marketability of seal product?
4:25 p.m.
Acting Director General of External Relations, International Trade and Market, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Not that I'm aware of.
4:25 p.m.
NDP
4:25 p.m.
Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Apparently it's not an issue with them.
4:25 p.m.
NDP
Philip Toone NDP Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
China has put an embargo on our products, as has Taiwan, and other jurisdictions are thinking of doing the same.
4:25 p.m.
Director, Aquaculture Policy and Regulatory Initiatives, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
China is not part of the TPP negotiations.
4:25 p.m.
NDP
Philip Toone NDP Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
With regard to any partner that might be in the TPP, we're not worried that they might also put in an embargo.
4:25 p.m.
Director, Aquaculture Policy and Regulatory Initiatives, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
It hasn't come up in the negotiations thus far. It's difficult to forecast.
4:25 p.m.
NDP
Philip Toone NDP Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
Okay.
On another line of questioning, Royal Greenland lands an awful lot of product in Quebec. There have been a lot of questions regarding traceability in its products.
How is the trade deal going to impact the traceability of products that are brought in or are privately labelled through Royal Greenland's plants in Quebec?
4:25 p.m.
Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
They're going to have to adhere to the origin rules. They're going to have to identify the origin as per the origin rules under the CETA.
