International Trade Committee on June 19th, 2012
Evidence of meeting #44 for International Trade in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was trade.
A recording is available from Parliament.
On the agenda
MPs speaking
Also speaking
- Steve Verheul Chief Trade Negotiator, Canada-European Union, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
- Ray Armbruster Director and President, Manitoba Beef Producers
- Cam Dahl General Manager, Manitoba Beef Producers
- Gordon Bacon Chief Executive Officer, Pulse Canada
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
Ed Holder London West, ON
Thank you, Chair.
I think I understand what Mr. Easter is doing. He's trying to lay his full argument out in public before we get to the point of the motion. I would like to ask you to.... If there's a motion on the floor, let's deal with it. If there's debate, then do that within the context of that and not before.
Can I ask you to rule on that, Chair?
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Rob Merrifield
That's fair enough. He's introducing the motion.
Are you done, Mr. Easter, on introducing?
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Malpeque, PE
Just about, Mr. Chair.
This will be all I need to say on it, Ed, really. I think the motion speaks for itself.
There are a number of recommendations at this stage from witnesses. I do think it establishes.... When Canada didn't live up to its part of the implementation act, it set a bad example, even for Colombia.
I would like to pass the motion now, and it would give our research staff the time to prepare a short submission. Then we can put it to the government, because this may be our last meeting. I don't know, maybe we'll meet on Thursday. Then we could have a look at it over the summer and pass it in the fall.
I so move.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
Ed Holder London West, ON
Can I ask what the question is? The preamble was so huge that I don't recall the question, Chair.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Rob Merrifield
I believe he's asking for support for the motion.
Mr. Davies, discussion on the motion.
June 19th, 2012 / 12:55 p.m.
NDP
Don Davies Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The motion is in front of us. I just want to speak in support of the motion.
It was the official opposition New Democrats who moved the motion to have the study. I want to thank all members of the committee for agreeing to that, because I think it turned out to be helpful.
I think we should have a brief study, for a few quick reasons. As Mr. Easter just pointed out, we have had two days of hearings and we received some pretty good testimony. Most importantly, though, I think all of us were somewhat disappointed that the report that came forward did not really have a human rights impact assessment, and I think we all want to make sure that it does have one next time.
It will be good to be able to give some direction to the government on maybe why that report was not done and what kinds of suggestions we may give to the government to ensure that a report is completed in a manner that complies with the legislation and satisfies the desire of all members of this committee to have such a study.
To me, it's just finishing off the logical conclusion of the study that we had with some concrete recommendations. This is not about politics. This is about making sure that the government does provide the report it agreed to, and which, I'm sure, it wants to produce for all Canadians.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
Gerald Keddy South Shore—St. Margaret's, NS
It's a complete change of position from the official opposition. When they asked to have the study, there was to be no report. We realized we only had four and a half months into this agreement. It was a very preliminary look at a study that we expect to see out next year. It's a totally different position from when the motion came to this place.
I say we have the vote and move on.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Rob Merrifield
Let's put the vote. We have to go in camera; we have to get some stuff done.
Do you have further debate?
12:55 p.m.
NDP
Don Davies Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Yes, I do.
Mr. Keddy, I think those remarks are totally uncalled for.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
12:55 p.m.
NDP
12:55 p.m.
Conservative