Declaration of Emergency Committee on Nov. 24th, 2022

Evidence of meeting #19 for Declaration of Emergency in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was industry.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Review of the Exercise of Powers and the Performance of Duties and Functions Pursuant to the Declaration of Emergency that was in Effect from Monday, February 14, 2022, to Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Committee Business

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Drew Dilkens Mayor, City of Windsor

Jim Willett Mayor, Village of Coutts

Joint Chair Hon. Gwen Boniface (Senator, Ontario, ISG)

Claude Carignan Senator, Quebec (Mille Isles), C

Peter Harder Senator, Ontario, PSG

Dennis Glen Patterson Senator, Nunavut, CSG

Stephen Laskowski President, Canadian Trucking Alliance

Brian Kingston President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association

Geoffrey Wood Senior Vice-President, Policy, Canadian Trucking Alliance

8:50 p.m.

President, Canadian Trucking Alliance

Stephen Laskowski

We worked together. Both the American Trucking Associations and the Canadian Trucking Alliance issued statements similar to those that were read into the record. We said let's work together. Let's push this date out further, to when we can get vaccination rates up, educate more people on the benefits of vaccination and bring stability to the supply chain.

The ATA had a slightly different position. They had more of a legal issue of whether the government in D.C. had the ability to impose this mandate. It was more of a legal issue than ours was, but we worked together.

8:50 p.m.

Senator, Ontario, PSG

Peter Harder

They are a more litigious country than we are. That probably reflects itself.

What are the vaccination rates in your American counterpart organization?

8:55 p.m.

President, Canadian Trucking Alliance

Stephen Laskowski

We haven't looked at it since probably the spring, so I don't know if it's changed. Based on previous figures, it was significantly lower than it is in Canada. It is reflective....

I guess it all depends on how you define “vaccination”. Is it two or is it three? At the time, it was two vaccinations. At the time, in our nation, I believe we hit over 85%. In some parts, it was almost 90%. In the United States, I don't believe they got over 75%. Their rates were very reflective of their society, as were ours.

8:55 p.m.

Senator, Ontario, PSG

Peter Harder

That's correct. That would have had its implications with respect to public health in both locations.

8:55 p.m.

President, Canadian Trucking Alliance

Stephen Laskowski

That's correct.

8:55 p.m.

Senator, Ontario, PSG

Peter Harder

If I could conclude, Brian Kingston, with a question with respect to the OEM sector—

8:55 p.m.

Bloc

The Joint Chair Bloc Rhéal Fortin

You have 10 seconds left, Mr. Harder.

8:55 p.m.

Senator, Ontario, PSG

Peter Harder

In terms of further or future investments in Canada, is the issue of cross-border fluidity on the minds of your member organizations when they consider expansion into Canada?

8:55 p.m.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association

Brian Kingston

Yes, it is. It's a key part of Canada's overall competitiveness. This came on the heels of previous disruptions to the supply chain, including stoppages at the port of Montreal. It is on the minds of companies when they think about investing in Canada.

8:55 p.m.

Bloc

The Joint Chair Bloc Rhéal Fortin

Thank you, Mr. Harder. Your time is up.

Thank you, Mr. Kingston.

We have about three and a half minutes left, so we don't really have time for another round.

I will simply thank the witnesses for being with us this evening and remind those who are supposed to get back to the committee in writing to do so through the joint clerks in the next few days.

We will now suspend and go in camera for the last part of our meeting.

[Proceedings continue in camera]