Industry and Technology Committee on May 4th, 2026

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

There is no EV mandate. Thank you. That's good.

Moving on, here at committee, we listened to Margaret McCuaig-Johnston. She said, “It's illegal to import products into Canada made in whole or in part with forced labour, but the staff positions at ESDC and GAC related to forced labour are being wound up”. A question was put to her, and this was her response:

I would not trade off the torture and armed surveillance of Uyghurs in Xinjiang for a marginal added number of cheap cars in Canada....

I think it's therefore up to the government now to reassure Canadians that there will be no EVs entering Canada from China unless they are entirely free of components produced by forced labour.

Minister, do you believe there's forced labour in China?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Listen, that's a question you should ask the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

At the same time, we've always been clear: We work with the UN, and their human rights commissioner has already stated in a report that there are concerns.

All of that is to say that we're looking at cars from China that are being produced by Tesla—

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

I asked about your opinion, Minister.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

—as well as GM, Ford, Volvo—

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

Minister, you were the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Yes.

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

You are the Minister of Industry.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Yes.

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

Do you believe there is forced labour happening in China?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

I have already stated my point of view on that. What I'm telling you now—

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

What is your point of view?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

My point of view is that we will always follow what the UN is saying. The UN was unequivocal.

I'm not the Minister of—

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

You would agree that there is forced labour in China.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

I'm not the Minister of Foreign Affairs anymore. I'm convinced that Minister Anand can answer all your questions.

What I can tell you is that Canada will never accept any foreign—

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

As the Minister of Industry, you are responsible for imports, so—

[The Chair, Liberal, Ben Carr]

Mr. Falk, could you give the minister a couple of seconds to reply? Then we will go back to you.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Canada will never accept any form of forced labour, and we have legislation on that. We all voted in favour of it.

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

It was from a Liberal member.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

It was from a Liberal member, and we're very proud of it because we don't accept forced labour, period. That is why—

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

Do you believe there's forced labour in China?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

—we will make sure the legislation applies. Meanwhile, we will work with those who want to export to Canada in order to make sure they apply these conditions, period.

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

Minister, you have been Minister of Foreign Affairs. You're the Minister of Industry today. You say that you agree with the UN position. The UN position is that there is forced labour happening in China, especially among the Uyghur people. Are you saying that you agree with this statement?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Listen, I agree with everything I've said in the past tense.

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

It's yes or no.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Now I'm before you as Minister of Industry. As Minister of Industry, my job is to protect all workers here. My job is internally focused.

Regarding everything linked to what is going on in China, my colleagues can answer.