Industry Committee on Feb. 27th, 2020

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

You will table those documents with committee.

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

We will look into the issue with my colleague and, of course, we will provide you with the information.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

If we need to move a motion to compel the ordering of documentation, I will do that right now.

[Simon Kennedy]

I believe, maybe the CFO can confirm, but generally speaking, debt writeoffs are a matter of public record and they get reported in the books of Canada. So, I think we can certainly come back with more detail on that for sure.

The other thing I would say is to assure the honourable members. On the number of businesses that go into default—I'm just looking at some of the statistics—the number of projects in recovery at ACOA is around 6%, which is roughly consistent with the historical averages of that agency across many years and many governments.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Madam Chair, I would like to move that the government table with committee all documentation related to the decision to write off the loans given to Atlantic Wallboard and Bayside Realties under ACOA.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sherry Romanado]

Is there any debate?

(Motion agreed to)

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Thank you. I'm sure that will be illuminating.

I also note that the Department of Western Economic Diversification spent $100,000 with the Canada West Foundation on a competitiveness research project. Is that project complete?

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

On this particular issue, obviously, I will defer to my colleagues.

But just to go back on ACOA for a second, because your question is—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

This is my time, and I—

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

But I just want to answer your question—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

No. This is my time and I'm—

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

—because you asked me to come to the committee and, obviously, I'm the minister in charge, so I just wanted to have the time.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Minister, I do have control of the questioning time, so I would repeat my question.

Is the competitiveness research project complete?

[Douglas McConnachie]

I'm sorry, I don't have that information.

[Simon Kennedy]

An MOU was actually signed between.... I'm just looking at the details here, Madam Chair, if you want to get the answer.

This is a three-year project to look at issues critical to the competitiveness of western Canada. The run time is from 2019 to 2022. So, I think the—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Were the effects of Bill C-69 and C-48 included on the western Canadian economy? Was that included in the scope of this report?

[Simon Kennedy]

The project has three elements. One is looking at innovation and regulation, another is looking at trade agreements and the third is around trade with China. There are a number of elements. I'd be happy to get back to you with some details on what the project elements are.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Thank you.

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

The other issue, also, in line with the funding of many of our projects is—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Thank you.

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

—we can be proud as a government to make sure that we actually decided to—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

That was an adequate response.

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

—double the funding to—

[The Chair, Liberal, Sherry Romanado]

Madam Joly, Madam Rempel Garner has the floor.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Madam Chair, thank you.

Has any analysis been done within Western Economic Diversification on the impacts of Bill C-69 and C-48 on the receptor capacity in the energy sector in terms of adopting clean technologies that have originally been funded under the WINN program?