Evidence of meeting #40 for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was c-300.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Program Coordinator, Asia Pacific Partnerships, KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives
No, it's okay.
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
Basically you're saying that the remedy right now for people who have concerns with the conduct of Canadian companies is limited to non-existent.
Mr. Hunt, I'll maybe go to you on this. I note that right now there are cases in court with regard to that limitation. We have litigation happening. You were very clear on the fact that you think this would actually not only raise Canada's profile but allow Canada to shine up its reputation, if you will. You see us as being able to do that a little bit with Bill C-300.
Director, District 3, United Steelworkers
Yes. Again, I see the positive aspect of it. Whenever you pass a law that says we're going to put a lens on something before we give support, and you have to comply with the lens, that's a pretty good thing.
I don't think it's really unattainable here. I think this is pretty easy. Once again, we have the technology and the knowledge to go forward with respect to extraction and equipment. We clearly have the knowledge of how to protect workers and the environment when we go into somebody else's country.
You know, in some instances, we've been leaving behind some really rotten messes. When you extract a non-renewable resource, you leave a hole along with a whole lot of waste. That's what you leave behind. Oftentimes there's a legacy from that.
Again, we've done that in Canada. If you look at Yellowknife, for example, it's the arsenic capital of the world. There's no more mining up there, but we've got enough arsenic to kill every man, woman, and child in Canada. We have acid leach from tailings dams and waste rocks that leach. In British Columbia, the Equity silver mine will leach for the next 100 years. The citizens of Canada, of British Columbia, are paying for that.
If we don't put any type of regulation on Canadian companies outside of this country, what will they do? In Yellowknife, for example, the Canadian taxpayers paid to clean that mess up. That was gold. It ran for 40 years. A gold mine: do you realize the money they made? And once they closed the doors, they walked away.
It's astounding.
NDP
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
Finally, if you have other evidence that you want to provide to the committee, please do so. Whether that is your experience overseas on the ground or recommendations that you think should be strengthened—as I think, Mr. Hunt, you were indicating—that would be most welcome.
Thank you for today.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Thank you very much, Mr. Dewar.
We have a couple of other bills before the House right now—different free trade bills. Does KAIROS have a policy on the free trade agreement with Colombia? Are you in favour of the free trade agreement with Colombia?
Program Coordinator, Ecological Justice and Corporate Accountability, KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives
As Connie was saying, there's another colleague of ours who focuses on this area of work. I do know that, as an organization, we've supported what this standing committee has called for, which is a full human rights impact assessment of what this deal would mean to the human rights situation in Colombia before Canada moves forward in any way.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
So in general policy, KAIROS doesn't have a policy to generally oppose free trade agreements.
Program Coordinator, Ecological Justice and Corporate Accountability, KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives
Certainly given the human rights situation in Colombia, to proceed without reviewing what impact it would have on the conflicts and human rights violations would be wrong. It would be very problematic.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
So a free trade agreement with other countries is not necessarily a problem.
Program Coordinator, Ecological Justice and Corporate Accountability, KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives
I think this is the sort of due diligence we would like to see the Canadian government adopt across the board. I don't think we're saying this is a one-off. I think this is about building human rights standards into more of the foreign policy and international trade dealings of Canada. I wouldn't necessarily limit it to this particular case.
Program Coordinator, Ecological Justice and Corporate Accountability, KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives
Yes, I'd be happy to provide you with a great deal of information.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Does it give policy on where you stand on free trade agreements?
Program Coordinator, Ecological Justice and Corporate Accountability, KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives
It does indeed.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Thank you very much. That's all I need to know.
We will suspend--
Director, District 3, United Steelworkers
I'd like to give you an answer to that. We don't support the Colombia free trade deal, and I'll tell you why. If I were in Colombia right now testifying before some committee, I wouldn't make it out the front door without being assassinated. And that's the truth.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
All right. Thank you for your perspective on Colombia.
We are going to... I see Mr. Dewar leaving, and it's his committee business.
Mr. Goldring, on a point of order.
Conservative
Peter Goldring Conservative Edmonton East, AB
Mr. Chairman, I certainly have extremely important comments that I'd like to continue on Mr. Dewar's motion, so from a point of order and a point of process perspective, I would like to know that I will have a chance to make these comments at the next available opportunity.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Mr. Goldring, I think you can be assured that you'll have as much opportunity as the committee allows you to, and we look forward to your comments.