Canada-China Relations Committee on Nov. 27th, 2023

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

According to an analysis published by the China Institute at the University of Alberta, state corporations in the People's Republic of China hold 10% to 26% of the shares of various Canadian mining companies. Do you see that as a threat, a challenge, or a problem? Is there anything there that might keep us from sleeping at night?

[Frank Des Rosiers]

The ownership of these companies, in some cases, is public. A minority share is not a source of concern in itself. However, when it becomes a control factor, then it is obviously the kind of transaction that will be reviewed under the Investment Canada Act, which is managed by the Department of Industry. We work very closely with it on this kind of review. That was the case last year, for investments in the lithium sector that raised concerns, and the review led to the announcement of a policy by the ministers, Mr. Wilkinson and Mr. Champagne. However, we are keeping an eye out, of course.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken Hardie]

Thank you, Mr. Bergeron and Mr. Des Rosiers.

We'll go to Mr. Boulerice for two and a half minutes to take us home.

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

My last two questions are for the representatives of the Department of the Environment.

The oceans, with the tremendous biodiversity they hold, make up two-thirds of the planet. Does Canada's Indo-Pacific strategy contain or provide any concrete measures to combat ocean acidification caused by global warming, that could disrupt numerous very fragile ecosystems that exist in the Pacific or Indian Oceans, in particular?

[Sandra McCardell]

If I may, Mr. Chair, I am going to let my colleagues from Fisheries and Oceans Canada answer the question.

[Darcy DeMarsico]

Thank you very much for putting such an important emphasis on the ocean's role in climate change.

I will say, in the context of the Indo-Pacific strategy's shared ocean fund, that although fighting IUU fishing is the primary work, what we are also looking at is how the shared ocean fund can support biodiversity and sustain ocean ecosystems, including in the face of climate change.

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Thank you.

We share an ocean with the countries in the Indo-Pacific region, so a lot of trade and transportation happens by boat. This has environmental consequences, like pollution.

My last question is this: does the strategy provide for measures to limit or reduce the impact of the pollution caused by marine transportation?

[Darcy DeMarsico]

This particular issue falls largely within the responsibility of my colleagues at Transport Canada. I can note that, last year, Canada co-sponsored with Chile the Americas for the Protection of the Ocean, which was endorsed at the Summit of the Americas and protects our Pacific Ocean through a network of conservation measures. It has a whole-of-Pacific focus, so it takes you right down along the coastline. That will be one of the things that we discuss there.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken Hardie]

Thank you very much, Mr. Boulerice.

We're almost at time, but Mr. Kmiec has asked for two minutes.

[Tom Kmiec, Conservative, Calgary Shepard, AB]

It's more for you, Chair. I'd like an update on whether the Minister of Finance has confirmed her appearance at this committee on either December 4 or December 11 regarding the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

That motion was passed by this committee at the end of October. We're now at the end of November, and I would like to get an update. We had agreed to an amendment from the parliamentary secretary to provide those two meeting dates as her window to appear.

I'd just like an update.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken Hardie]

I will turn to our clerk on that.

[The Clerk of the Committee, Ms. Christine Holke]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The original invitation was sent to the Department of Finance on Friday, October 27. Then two reminders were sent, on Sunday, November 19, and today. No reply has been received.

[Tom Kmiec, Conservative, Calgary Shepard, AB]

Chair, I implore you to remind the finance minister that this committee passed a motion for her to appear. It was her parliamentary secretary who suggested that she would be able to come before the committee on those two days to give us an update on an announcement she made back in June 2023.

I think it is of critical importance that she appear before the committee to explain the review of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. One of those two dates is also when Bob Pickard will be before the committee, and he made those allegations.

I would like to get that update to the committee. I'd like the minister to confirm with the committee when she will appear. Again, it was a parliamentary secretary...and we agreed on those two days based on her schedule at the time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken Hardie]

I will make it my quest.

[Tom Kmiec, Conservative, Calgary Shepard, AB]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken Hardie]

I want to thank our panel for their excellent work today. It was good to hear from all of you. There is some good work going on.

I want to thank our people around the table for all the excellent questions they aimed at you.

Our clerk, our analysts, our interpreters, and everybody in the background who supports us made this a very successful session.

With that, we'll adjourn.