Foreign Affairs Committee on April 23rd, 2026

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Ambassador, I'm not asking you for any of the details that were discussed. I'm not saying, “Please table what the offers were.” I can't imagine that it's confidential information or relevant to the negotiations when the last negotiation took place, because the Americans were there. They would know what the date was as well.

Why are you so reluctant to give the last date of negotiations when formal offers were exchanged on the section 232 tariffs?

[Mark Wiseman]

There are ongoing discussions. Some of those are reported; some aren't. You will have seen, for example, that Secretary Bessent and Minister Champagne met last Friday. I was party to part of those discussions. There were other reported meetings between Minister LeBlanc and Secretary Lutnick.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Ambassador, you're not going to answer my question. I've tried four different ways. That's fine. I don't need to hear about what the discussions are.

You've said very clearly today that Canada is—and these are your words—ready and prepared for formal negotiations on the section 232 tariffs. Mr. Greer has said they are prepared to have formal negotiations. Why haven't they happened?

[Mark Wiseman]

I think what I said is that Canada is ready, willing and able to commence the formal review process of CUSMA.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Why haven't those formal meetings taken place? Mr. Greer has said they're ready as well.

[Mark Wiseman]

We are also ready.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Something is happening. The Americans are saying they're prepared. You're saying you're prepared, but no one is meeting. What's the holdup?

[Mark Wiseman]

All I can do is reiterate that on the Canadian side, under the lead of our chief negotiator, Janice Charette, we are ready to commence the CUSMA review process.

I want to say that this is a review process. This is not a negotiation of a new agreement.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

I understand how it works. I used to be the trade critic for the Conservatives. I know it's a review process.

The section 232 tariffs have been in place for almost a year now. You've talked about how this has caused the strain on Canadian businesses. Has there been an economic analysis prepared, that you're aware of, about how much this costs Canadian businesses every month?

[Mark Wiseman]

Yes.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

You do have that, so you're aware of what the cost is to Canadian businesses every single month of delay in resolving the section 232 tariffs.

[Mark Wiseman]

The Government of Canada does detailed economic analysis of the impact of the unjustified tariffs that the United States has put on Canadian business. I believe that the Government of Canada understands very well these unjustified tariffs and what they're doing to Canadian business interests.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

If delay was a tactic, do you know how much it's hurting Canadian businesses?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

Thank you very much.

We go next to MP Rob Oliphant.

You have five minutes.

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

This is obviously not the first time Canada has faced tariffs under section 232 of the 1962 act, nor is Canada the only country facing these so-called metal tariffs.

When we were facing these before in the first Trump administration, not only did we have an advisory panel of experts, but we also promoted both parliamentary diplomacy as well as a sort of track two diplomacy that would engage civil society, business, labour unions, community groups, arts organizations and academics to look at the strong relationships we have. I'm wondering what thoughts you might have on the value of your conversations at the executive and congressional levels, which are important, but then also the conversations you and your embassy could perhaps foster among those who cross the border every day.

My mother came from Niagara Falls. We have family in Lewiston, and we have family in Chicago. I went to school in Chicago, where I have relationships. Is there a way I could be of use other than being an MP? Is there a way that your embassy can help us engage Americans at a level of conversation that would be helpful for Canadians?

[Mark Wiseman]

Thank you.

I think it is important to build relationships. I think it's important to remind American leaders, be they business leaders or political leaders, and to remind ordinary Americans of the importance of the relationship with Canada. As I've said, we share a tremendous amount in common on many levels. This form of engagement, I believe, is very critical to furthering the position of the Government of Canada as it relates to our relationship with the United States in trade, in defence and in many other matters.

One thing that I've been reminded of and learned about in my early days as the ambassador is the number of things that work unbelievably well between our two countries. For example, on Monday at the embassy, I hosted a lunch with the International Joint Commission, which is a commission that was struck under the 1909, I believe, boundary waters agreement. Americans and Canadians are working day in and day out to resolve issues as they relate to the international waters that flow from Canada to the United States and from the United States to Canada. That type of engagement showing the importance of co-operation, showing the importance of the business relationships and showing the importance of the cultural relationships goes a long way.

As I said, I think there's a very important role for parliamentarians, including members of this committee, to help in that as well. As the ambassador, I'm very encouraging of parliamentarians from all parties—I've now welcomed parliamentarians from all parties to the embassy—and I encourage you to continue to do that both as parliamentarians and as ordinary Canadians.

We are going to engage Canadian business, Canadian labour leaders and Canadian cultural leaders with their American counterparts to remind the United States of the importance, the depth, the breadth and the richness of the relationship between our two countries.

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

I would caution you: Beware that, in my first two years in my role of representing Canada around the world, I gained 15 pounds. The luncheons can kill, so keep your health in mind as well. Diplomacy is a lot about eating.

You talked earlier about the network of consulates and trade offices that we have around the United States. We also have key interests in border states, so the relationships between our premiers who are on border-facing states as well as governors and state-level representatives become important. Has that been part of your briefing? Has that been part of your mandate as well?

[Mark Wiseman]

Our provinces and territories that border the United States actually have a particularly important role to play. I've already worked with many premiers, asking them to help the Government of Canada with our relations, particularly with governors from adjacent states.

There are a number of.... I forget the acronyms of the various organizations, but there's one in the northwest, and there's one, obviously, in the northeast and Atlantic provinces. I think those relationships between our premiers and their counterparts in the governors' offices, particularly in border states, are incredibly important.

Those border states feel the presence and the economic connection to Canada in many respects more than anywhere else, whether it's North Dakota, Maine, Alaska, Washington state or one of the other nine states that border Canada. I believe that there's a special place for our provinces and territories to help us in delivering the message, and I've already reached out to them.

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

Senators go to those governors' meetings as well. It's really quite important. We all engage. We have opportunities to do that.

Briefing notes from your embassy are important for us to make sure that we are up to date on the status of trade issues. I originally come from Sault Ste. Marie—

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

I'm sorry, but I have to interrupt. We are way over time.

Mr. Brunelle‑Duceppe, you have the floor for two and a half minutes.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Ambassador, don't worry. My questions won't be as tough as Mr. Oliphant's.

Today, my leader offered to meet with you to inform you of Quebec's distinctiveness, whether linguistic, cultural or economic.

Do you intend to accept his offer and meet with him one-on-one to discuss your upcoming mandate and Quebec?

[Mark Wiseman]

Absolutely. Whenever the leader is available, I will make myself available.

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

That's fantastic.

Thank you very much, Ambassador.

We talked a bit about your past. I understand that it may have unsettled some people here, but we truly did not do it in bad faith. We've heard real concerns, and serious doubts have been raised by people affected by the sectors in which you've held positions in the past. That's why we raised the issues of supply management and the plan to triple Canada's population without taking into account Quebec's cultural and linguistic specificity.

What do you say to people who have raised serious doubts?

I understand that you want to represent all Canadians, including Quebeckers. As you mentioned, you read the newspapers in both official languages. However, many people still have serious doubts about your past and the positions you have held.

In the historical context of the tense relations we currently have with our neighbours to the south, what do you say to people who are concerned?

[Mark Wiseman]

One thing about my role is that I get to meet a lot of people. Something that I've made sure of is that I spend time in the province of Quebec and with Quebeckers. One of my first meetings with business leaders anywhere was with Minister Joly in Montreal, where I met a round table of business leaders from Quebec. I will, in fact, be back in Quebec City and Montreal next week, meeting leaders from the province.

I've also had very constructive meetings with the former premier—and I will be welcoming the new premier to my office in the coming weeks as well—not to mention excellent engagement with Quebec's representative in Washington.

Part of my job is to make sure that I understand the views of the people I represent. Those are views that come from across Canada. They're varied views; they're different views. It's important that I understand them, and I'm making a very large effort in particular to understand the important views from the province of Quebec.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

Thank you very much.

I will now go to to MP Michael Chong.

You have five minutes.