Evidence of meeting #12 for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was xinjiang.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Randeep Sarai Liberal Surrey Centre, BC
Maybe this is not for you, Ms. Chen, but I'll let you refer it to someone else.
Regarding the UN High Commissioner's trip, what is the expected outcome of that? Should we expect to have a series of recommendations after that investigation? Are other countries or other representatives going along with her on that trip to Xinjiang?
Executive Director, Greater China Political and Coordination, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Thank you for the question.
To our knowledge this is something that Madam Bachelet's office negotiates directly with the Government of China. As mentioned earlier, we strongly urge Chinese authorities to extend the same level of transparency and openness that have been provided during similar visits undertaken by her and other UN special rapporteurs. As to recommendations or outcomes, again, we are not in a position to speculate, but we are following developments about this upcoming visit very closely.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
It's seconds, Mr. Sarai. If you have a very quick one, you can squeeze it in. Otherwise, it will be in the next round.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
Thank you very much.
Colleagues, we'll go into round three.
Mr. Morantz will lead us off with five minutes.
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'm initially going to focus my questions on the measures introduced on January 12, 2021, essentially the forced labour countermeasures. I'll refer to them as the “measures” for the purposes of my questions.
How many Xinjiang integrity declarations have been signed by Canadian companies?
Executive Director, Greater China Political and Coordination, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Mr. Chair, I invite Mr. Hutchison to answer this question.
Acting Director General, Trade Portfolio Strategy and Coordination, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Six integrity declarations have been signed.
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Okay. That doesn't seem like very many. I'm a bit stunned by that response.
What are the repercussions for companies that don't sign them?
Acting Director General, Trade Portfolio Strategy and Coordination, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
If a company does not sign an integrity declaration, it will no longer receive trade commissioner service support.
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Okay.
The measures refer to protecting Canadian businesses from becoming unknowingly complicit with forced labour. Is the department aware of any Canadian companies that are knowingly complicit in the importation of goods produced using forced labour?
Acting Director General, Trade Portfolio Strategy and Coordination, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
I am not aware of any companies that are knowingly complicit.
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Is any research being done on that?
Acting Director General, Trade Portfolio Strategy and Coordination, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
From my perspective of having worked within the trade commissioner service, the trade commissioner service does not have a mandate to investigate Canadian firms. Our role is to provide support and market intelligence to Canadian companies.
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Thank you.
In terms of the measures, there were really four areas. One of them was the Xinjiang integrity declaration. It also says that enhanced advice would be provided to Canadian businesses. How many Canadian companies received enhanced advice under the measures?
Acting Director General, Trade Portfolio Strategy and Coordination, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
I'm not in a position to cite a specific number, but I can tell you that the entire network of our offices within China, our trade commissioners on the ground, our trade commissioners across Canada and our regional offices have been engaging with Canadian companies and providing education and information on the risks of doing business.
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
The measures also refer to export controls. What are those?
Acting Director General, Trade Portfolio Strategy and Coordination, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Export controls are handled by another part of Global Affairs Canada. I don't believe we have a colleague available to speak to those. Is there a specific question we could answer?
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
It's referred to in the suggested questions in the Library of Parliament report, perhaps you could respond in writing as to what that refers to.
The fourth thing that's referred to is a study on forced labour and supply chain risks. Is this study being undertaken? Will the report be made public, and when?
Acting Director General, Trade Portfolio Strategy and Coordination, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Yes, the report has been completed and will be released on the Global Affairs website very soon.
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
In the Minister of Labour's mandate letter, it calls for the introduction of “legislation to eradicate forced labour from Canadian supply chains”. Honestly, based on the response to the January 2021 measures, I'm not optimistic about how effective that legislation would be. Having said that, is that legislation being drafted, and when will it be tabled?
Executive Director, Greater China Political and Coordination, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Mr. Patry, that question goes to you.
Director General, International and Intergovernmental Labour Affairs, Department of Employment and Social Development
As I said previously, we are working on developing legislation of this nature. It is a commitment of the government to introduce it. I spelled out earlier some of the key policy considerations that need to be taken into account to introduce that legislation, but unfortunately, I can't give you a timeline at this point as to when the government will introduce it.
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
How many shipments of goods have been imported from China since the announcement of the measures with the goods produced with forced labour?