Evidence of meeting #24 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was mda.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
I'll look into that, but we did have Mr. Byers and Mr. Thompson who wanted to respond. We'll try to fix the logistics.
5:10 p.m.
Professor, Canada Research Chair (Tier One) in Global Politics and International Law, University of British Columbia
With all respect, I think the reason there was initially silence on my part was that although I know the argument, or some of the arguments, MDA is advancing, I don't actually objectively grant much weight to them.
I did mention the benefit to the MDA shareholders. There is the argument that it will keep some of the jobs in places like Richmond, B.C. My problem with that is that you start running into these limitations in terms of classified activities in the United States, and the inevitable, in my view, long-term consequence--
5:10 p.m.
Independent
André Arthur Independent Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
I didn't ask you to repeat the same argument, sir. I was trying to use you as an expert, not as a fighter.
5:10 p.m.
Professor, Canada Research Chair (Tier One) in Global Politics and International Law, University of British Columbia
Let me just say that if you want that information you should call the CEO of MacDonald Dettwiler. I cannot speak for him.
5:10 p.m.
Independent
André Arthur Independent Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Okay. So you're not an expert. You're an advocate?
5:10 p.m.
Professor, Canada Research Chair (Tier One) in Global Politics and International Law, University of British Columbia
No. My job as an expert is to call it as I see it, and that is what I do.
5:10 p.m.
Independent
5:10 p.m.
Professor, Canada Research Chair (Tier One) in Global Politics and International Law, University of British Columbia
If I think it is correct, it may appear to you to be one-sided.
5:10 p.m.
Spacecraft systems engineer, MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd., As an Individual
I think Marc Garneau actually made pretty much a good case for the main arguments that MDA management would put forward.
I think it is wrong to claim that I am an expert. I am not an expert on these matters. I am here as an individual and as an employee describing the effect that it has on me as a person.
I think Marc Garneau did state more or less the correct arguments. I think the other argument that is quite significant is that MDA believes that jobs will stay in Canada as a result of this sale. I had assumed that you had heard those arguments, so I was making the case that because of ITAR and other restrictions I don't think they will. But the argument by MDA is that a small portion of classified U.S. space contracts is better than no contracts.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
5:10 p.m.
Chair, Rideau Institute on International Affairs
Very briefly, just to correct the record, the actual agency that's designed to promote Canadian industry to U.S. governments and other government buyers is the Canadian Commercial Corporation. They are the ones that administer the defence production sharing agreements with the United States and they handle all Canadian industry sales to NASA.
It's my understanding that the process of this committee is that each party is able to put forward its own lists of witnesses. So I would assume that there is some balance built in when all the parties participate in that.
Certainly I would hope that if all the views aren't represented here that there could be certainly more hearings and we could hear some of the other people.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Okay. Thank you.
Merci, Monsieur Arthur.
I'm sorry, we're out of time here, Ms. Nash.
5:10 p.m.
NDP
Peggy Nash NDP Parkdale—High Park, ON
Yes, my point of order is that it's a little unfair to criticize the witnesses who did come when we are the only party that submitted a list of witnesses, and included in those witnesses was a representation from MacDonald Dettwiler and they declined to participate in our committee today. So given that the member opposite did not even suggest witnesses, no one else put witness names in--
5:15 p.m.
NDP
Peggy Nash NDP Parkdale—High Park, ON
--I think it's unfair to criticize the witnesses who did come.
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Ms. Nash, you've made your point, but it is a point of debate, not a point of order.
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
With respect to MDA, I do want to say they were invited. They felt that the timeline was too short. And to be fair, it was a very short timeline, as Mr. Byers said; I mean, he came here and flew overnight. So it was a short timeline to appear, but they were invited. I just want to clarify that for the members of the committee and our witnesses here today.
I do want to thank our witnesses for coming here today. I think it was a very substantive discussion. We may as a committee look into this further, I don't know, but we appreciate your presentations here today.
If you have anything further to submit to the committee, please do so and we'll ensure that all members of the committee get it. Thank you.
The meeting is adjourned.