Evidence of meeting #220 for Finance in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was market.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

John White  President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Automobile Dealers Association
Chad Bunch  Vice-President, Operations, Bunch Welding Ltd
Catherine Cobden  President, Canadian Steel Producers Association
David McHattie  Vice-President, Institutional Relations Canada, Tenaris
Ken Neumann  National Director for Canada, National Office, United Steelworkers

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

Mr. White wants in.

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

Bryan May Liberal Cambridge, ON

I was going to say as chair of the Liberal auto caucus I have to make sure that Mr. White can get in. It looks as if he has a question or an answer.

5:15 p.m.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Automobile Dealers Association

John White

Thank you very much.

I guess we're on the same wave length. On that matter we worked very collaboratively with NADA, the National Automobile Dealers Association in the U.S. with regard to steel and aluminum tariffs when the prospect of auto tariffs was out there.

They were aware of our position. They were aware of some of our activities and vice versa. Our Ottawa office was also in touch with some of the folks in the U.S. We worked quite closely. There was a good exchange of information, and our association is also part of an international group of other like-minded associations around the world where we have the opportunity to discuss these things.

Yes, for sure we're very pleased with the support we got from our friends in the U.S., and they appreciated working with us.

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

I have a suggestion. I believe, Catherine, you mentioned the importance of strengthening our trade remedy system. Ken, you mentioned the need for concrete measures in place to protect steelworkers.

The finance committee holds pre-budget hearings every fall. This year is different. An election is coming up in the fall we're told, but the committee will be putting out a call for submissions. Those submissions will be turned over to a future finance committee. I would suggest you look at the press release that comes out from the Standing Committee on Finance. You don't necessarily have to appear, but certainly put your key points in a submission that a future committee can look at.

The finance committee has been relatively successful in getting quite a number of recommendations considered, even though some of us in this town figure Finance runs a little too much, but in any event it's a good pressure point to put your points to.

With that, committee members we'll go to clause-by-clause at 3:30 tomorrow afternoon.

To witnesses, Mr. McHattie in Vancouver and Mr. Bunch in Calgary and those appearing here, thank you very much. Again, as many of us have said, your appearance on very short notice is really helpful to all of us at the committee.

The meeting is adjourned.