Evidence of meeting #12 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was nuctech.
A recording is available from Parliament.
December 7th, 2020 / 5:10 p.m.
Liberal
As an Individual
I didn't say that the policy was case-by-case. We need to know what our intentions are vis-à-vis China and what we're prepared to accept and what we're not prepared to accept.
Liberal
Steven MacKinnon Liberal Gatineau, QC
Okay. In terms of procurement, which is the focus of this committee specifically, for the minister who has the authority to execute or not execute on a purchase, what guidance should he or she take in the case of GAC here? From your accumulated wisdom and that of our witnesses, what should we take specifically as to your advice for her or for him?
As an Individual
If you're thinking about the present procurement of Nuctech, the reality is that it's a relatively minor thing. You could add to the security review that was done that they should have looked at the technology of the equipment that was being bought, as well as the two security issues that they did look at. Apart from that, it's a relatively minor issue. Perhaps that wouldn't in fact change, unless the question of whether the Chinese had so dominated the screening industry that it became a threat in and of itself. You might continue to want to buy from China if you've taken all of the security issues into review.
Again, in much of what your procurement policy will be, it doesn't fall out necessarily in detail from what your policy view is of China relationships. Once you know what your China policy relationships are, you can start to make clearer decisions about what your procurement rules are going to be, what kind of position you're going to take on Chinese SOEs selling into Canada and what kind of position you're going to take on the level with which you're prepared to see Chinese companies investing in Canada. All of the—
Liberal
Steven MacKinnon Liberal Gatineau, QC
We're putting the cart before the horse in this meeting today. There are five hearings scheduled on this Nuctech issue at the behest of the opposition. Is your view that it would be four too many, Mr. Elcock, and that it's a minor issue?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Robert Gordon Kitchen
Thank you. Unfortunately, our four minutes are up.
I appreciate that it's a tight schedule today.
Perhaps, Mr. Elcock, you could answer Mr. MacKinnon in writing. That would be greatly appreciated.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Robert Gordon Kitchen
The challenge is that we have to get this on time.
Witnesses, I'd like to thank all of you for being here today and for your answers to our multiple questions. It's very tough to answer some of these questions in a short time frame, but we do appreciate your comments.
Again, thank you for being here. You are now welcome to leave.
Committee members, we are ending the public portion of our meeting and we are going in camera.
In order to do that Zoom will end. You will need to go out and come back in on the Zoom attachment that you were given, plus the new code that you were given.
With that I'll suspend the meeting until we are in camera.
[Proceedings continue in camera]