Foreign Affairs Committee on April 23rd, 2026

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

Thank you very much.

We go next to Monsieur Brunelle-Duceppe.

You have two and a half minutes.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'd just like to clarify something, because being for or against the supply management system isn't like being for or against the new wallpaper in the kitchen.

Mr. Wiseman, do you renounce today the comments you made in 2024 on supply management?

[Mark Wiseman]

I think I published remarks at that time. I don't deny publishing that article, but I don't think that it is relevant to my role.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

It's important for the people in Quebec.

Do you renounce your 2024 position, yes or no? It's not a very complicated question.

[Mark Wiseman]

I don't think my position then or my position now, personally, is relevant. I would say that I am meeting regularly with leaders of critical Canadian industries, including the dairy industry, the poultry industry, the cattle industry and many other industries and many other representatives from Quebec and beyond. I am listening and I am learning about their roles and what's important to them. I am feeding that information back, including to our chief negotiator.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Ambassador.

You don't think your position on supply management matters, then, but you say it anyway. That's terrific.

As part of your mandate, how do you think you will be able to defend Quebec's cultural exception, for example—because it will be part of the negotiations—knowing that you are the co-author of a report that aims to triple the population of Canada and that never mentions Quebec's language or culture and the Quebec nation?

Do you understand that the complete omission of this linguistic and cultural concept from a fairly detailed report on how to reach a population of 100 million people by 2100 shocked many people in Quebec?

Do you understand that this may show your lack of interest, or even your complete ignorance, of what's happening in Quebec in terms of language and culture?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

Ambassador, before you answer, I have to say something to Mr. Duceppe.

We had agreed as members that this would not be a confirmation hearing. This is a hearing about the ambassador's mandate.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

I'm talking about the cultural exception.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

Let's try to stick to that. You're going back and you're talking about writings.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Yes, but—

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

It's about his mandate as an ambassador of Canada to the United States. Let's try to keep to that topic, please.

Thank you.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

I fail to see how the matter of the cultural exception in the negotiation of the Canada—United States—Mexico Agreement isn't related to his mandate.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

I will turn to the ambassador to respond.

[Mark Wiseman]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Again, my job—

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Is the cavalry coming to the rescue, Mr. Guilbeault?

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

No, not at all. I just want to remind everyone listening in that the cultural exception isn't just for Quebec. Francophonie exists from one end of the country to the other. Francophone culture is obviously extremely important, not only in Quebec, but also throughout the Canadian federation.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

You're quite right.

That's even better, Mr. Ambassador.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

Thank you.

We'll go back to the ambassador.

[Mark Wiseman]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I will faithfully represent the policies of the Government of Canada, as instructed, in everything I do, including as it relates to cultural and language matters.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

How much time do I have left?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

You have 10 seconds left.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Thank you.

In that case, I'll come back to you later, Mr. Ambassador. I have more questions for you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

Thank you.

We go next to MP Rood for five minutes.

[Lianne Rood, Conservative, Middlesex—London, ON]

Thank you very much, Ambassador, for being here with us today.

Ambassador Wiseman, do you believe that “The old relationship we had with the United States based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military co-operation is over”, that “It is clear that the United States is no longer a reliable partner” and that “Many of our former strengths, based on our close ties to America, have become weaknesses”?