Evidence of meeting #47 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 environmental.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
Okay. Thank you very much.
We'll now move to Mr. Shipley.
You have five minutes.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Bev Shipley Conservative Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON
Thank you very much. I think I have a short time.
I am looking at your website, and I can't find those things that have been asked.
However, when you mentioned the mines in Canada, I didn't hear you mention anything about the oil sands development. Could you give me an opinion on that?
5:25 p.m.
Latin America Program Coordinator, MiningWatch Canada
No, we don't work on oil or gas.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
Bev Shipley Conservative Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON
Oh, okay, that's good.
Mr. Pomerleau, thank you for coming again. It's good to see you here. I know the producers know the value you provide for them. We recognize the importance of the work you do for an industry that it seems to me rides a roller coaster a lot in terms of its strength in markets and revenues.
My understanding is that you are the third-largest exporter of pork in the world, at a little under $3 billion, and that shouldn't go unnoticed. It's more than that now. To our colleagues around the table, I think when we're talking about the significance or the urgency of making sure that we move ahead, particularly with Panama this time, it reflects, in terms of an industry that is basic to Canada, a lot about how important it is that we would be able to move ahead.
The question came up about an easier resolution to the conflict issue, and we go back to the COOL. In the United States, as we continue to move forward with that, and hopefully have that resolution that was made a long time ago, do you recognize two things? One is that this now gives a diversity of markets when those things happen; is that of significance? Two, if that type of non-tariff barrier jumps in front of us again, do you see this type of a resolution being better?
5:25 p.m.
President, Canada Pork International
One thing we've noticed is the more you lower tariffs, the more you're likely to get non-tariff and technical barriers in place. We've seen it with several countries, including the largest ones, and even with our friendly neighbours. The point is that with this type of mechanism in the Panama treaty, in this case at least, they agreed to talk. It's a good start, because at times we just hit the wall—who do you talk to, or do they just ignore us or whatever? We've seen that with countries that I won't name, but they are quite significant markets for us.
Therefore, the more we have those kinds of clauses in our treaties, the better I think we'll be. One thing I should also mention is that 65% of our production is exported.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
Bev Shipley Conservative Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON
You said 65% of all the production in Canada is exported. Does most of that have pretty good access to terminals for export, in terms of transportation?
5:25 p.m.
President, Canada Pork International
Oh, it's no longer an issue. It was a couple of years ago; we couldn't get enough reefers.
At the same time, we have to be careful. A lot of our big plants are located in the Prairies. It might be easier at times to truck the containers all the way to Vancouver than to get a slot on the trains. It's always been an issue.
There are some efforts being made to get the product not only from the Asia-Pacific gateway but also from the Halifax area. More and more, especially if we are successful in negotiating an agreement with the European Union, it would become very significant that we have access.
Right now it's not an issue because there are more reefer containers available on the world market, now that some troops are not posted in Asia, as they used to be.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
Yes, I'm afraid that's time.
I want to thank you both for coming in, Mr. Pomerleau and Madam Moore.
Madam Moore, before we let you go, I've checked with the researcher who checked your website to see if the breakdown of those contributors is there. They're there, but not in percentage form. We could be missing it....
5:30 p.m.
Latin America Program Coordinator, MiningWatch Canada
I think if you go to the “about us” section, all our annual general reports are there. There are financial reports in that section.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
We'll check into it. If we can't find it, perhaps you could have it provided. We'll have our researchers get hold of you, if that's okay.
Thank you very much for coming in.
With that, the meeting is adjourned.