Evidence of meeting #41 for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was work.
A video is available from Parliament.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Is that the case even though we have moved on to a different group of witnesses?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ahmed Hussen
It was you, then Mr. Aboultaif and then Mr. Guilbeault. Now, it's Mr. Mantle, Madame Fortier and then you.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
All right. So it's not the same as with a new group of witnesses.
Conservative
Jacob Mantle Conservative York—Durham, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to our officials for being here and providing valuable testimony.
The minister spoke at some length in her statement on issues around forced labour, so I'm going to focus my questions on those. I'll let you decide who is best placed to answer those questions.
Could you tell me when the first draft of Bill C-35 was completed and sent to the minister's office for review?
Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer, People and Corporate Management Branch, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
I'll hand this one over to my colleague, David Hutchison.
David Hutchison Director General, Trade Strategy Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
I don't have information on that, but we would be pleased to provide that to the committee at a later date.
Conservative
Jacob Mantle Conservative York—Durham, ON
Thank you. I would appreciate that. A written response would be more than sufficient.
Can you tell us what goods will be on the list of goods that will be placed under deemed reasonable suspicion for production by forced labour?
Director General, Trade Strategy Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
I'm not in a position—
Liberal
Rob Oliphant Liberal Don Valley West, ON
On a point of order, I don't believe that this is actually in the estimates or the supplementary estimates that we are discussing today. I think it's quite out of scope for what our study is.
The officials are not the officials who would be preparing legislation. They're related to the work that we are mandated to do in today's effort.
I do not believe that this is within what we should be doing today.
Liberal
Conservative
Jacob Mantle Conservative York—Durham, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
On the same point of order, the Minister of Foreign Affairs has been designated as one of the ministers responsible for Bill C-35. She spoke at great length on Canada's approach and response to forced labour. I assume the officials are prepared to answer questions based on what the minister has provided to the committee, so I believe it's properly in scope.
Conservative
Jacob Mantle Conservative York—Durham, ON
Thank you.
I had paused my time at about 57 seconds, so I'll continue.
Could you answer my previous question?
Director General, Trade Strategy Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
As the legislation has just been tabled, I'm not in a position as a public servant to comment on what may or may not be included in the implementation of that legislation.
Conservative
Jacob Mantle Conservative York—Durham, ON
That's fair enough.
In your view as officials for the ministry, do you have goods that you're concerned about? Obviously, our prohibition has been in force for about five years now. Are there goods that are concerning to you?
Let me give you some examples. Are you concerned about polysilicon from China?
Director General, Trade Strategy Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
I'm not responsible for the forced labour file. I don't have expertise to share on that.
There have been previous publications by the Government of Canada related to forced labour and various items at risk. The committee may wish to refer to those publications.
Conservative
Jacob Mantle Conservative York—Durham, ON
Thank you for that.
I'm interested in the ministry's perspective, as the officials will be providing advice, I presume, in the creation of this list. We've been having an import prohibition for—
Liberal
Rob Oliphant Liberal Don Valley West, ON
On a point of order, this legislation is at first reading. It will come to second reading. The House of Commons will have a chance to debate it at second reading and may choose to refer it to a committee. It will come to this committee, so then this committee will have an opportunity to have those questions answered with officials who are prepared to answer those questions . At this point, I do not believe that this is in the scope of this meeting.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ahmed Hussen
The official has made it clear that he's not the official responsible for this line of questioning.
Again, I'm giving you an opportunity to—
Conservative
Jacob Mantle Conservative York—Durham, ON
On the same point of order, I would respectfully disagree with my colleague.
The bill itself does not include the list. It's left to further regulation-making authority, so there won't be discussion on that specific list. I'm—