Evidence of meeting #31 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was jules.
A recording is available from Parliament.
1:25 p.m.
Bloc
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
Can you talk to us about obstacles businesses involved in innovation face?
At the end of the day, are regulations not limiting innovation in Quebec and in Canada?
April 15th, 2021 / 1:25 p.m.
Technology Entrepreneur and Strategist, As an Individual
From my personal experience, I truly believe that regulation is good. It protects Canadians. It tells us what we can and can't do. But at the same time, we need to make it easier. We need to make it more accessible.
Let me give you an example. If you're a small business trying to operate in the food space, do you really understand the regulations within the industry if you want to sell across the province? There are bilingual labelling requirements. Do you understand all of that stuff in terms of the label and the prior notices? There are so many different elements to this.
Yes, I truly believe that if we can cut the regulation but at the same time make it more accessible and put it in simple language that people can actually understand, then that in itself will make it easier and increase competition, absolutely.
Thank you so much.
1:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sherry Romanado
Thank you very much.
We have about two minutes remaining.
Mr. Poilievre, would you like to take the last two minutes?
1:25 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
If you don't mind, I would love to.
I'll pose a quick question to Chief Jules.
There's a major pipeline project running near your community. You're in Kamloops, of course, and the Trans Mountain pipeline is running near where you live.
Have the approval and construction of that pipeline been a net positive or a net negative for the people you represent?
1:25 p.m.
C.T. (Manny) Jules
We had quite a bit of consultation with all of the communities that were impacted by the pipeline, and every one of our Shuswap communities agreed that it would be beneficial for our communities to engage, in a business way, with the Trans Mountain pipeline. Every one of our communities is benefiting to a huge degree.
What is missing from the equation is what I talked about a bit earlier: a resource charge. It's to make sure that all of these issues are dealt with up front and that we do not have to invent something every time we're dealing with a new pipeline or a new development.
We also have an agreement with New Gold, which benefits two of the communities to a substantial degree. Over 120 community members are working with New Gold, and a lot of those taksis go to the federal and provincial governments, with no real benefit for the first nation communities. There has to be greater revenue sharing among resources in a fundamental way with first nations.
1:30 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Right. You're again in this strange situation where the federal government takes away money from your community and then you're expected to go to Ottawa and ask for some of it back, when it fact it makes more sense to just let you keep what should be yours.
1:30 p.m.
C.T. (Manny) Jules
Exactly.
1:30 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
I know we're out of time, Madam Chair, but I have talked with all of the parties and I want to put forward an informal motion that we open up the previous study on the Shaw-Rogers merger to additional submissions and written commentary from any stakeholders that are interested, that the analyst decide on a deadline for receiving that written information and that he and his team incorporate it into the final report draft.
I think this should be unanimous. I apologize for the imperfection in the way I've uttered it, but I'm putting it forward.
1:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sherry Romanado
Mr. Poilievre, as we had not received notice of it, if it's okay with you—because committee members have to get to QP—would it be possible for us to get back to this at our earliest convenience? I'm happy to check with our clerk and get back to you by email, if that's okay.
1:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sherry Romanado
Thank you so much.
I want to thank everyone today for their flexibility, patience and collaboration to make sure that everyone had a chance to get their questions in, and I thank those who gave up their slot so that we could get to QP on time.
A huge thank you goes out to the interpreters for their hard work, as usual. We really appreciate everything they do for us.
To our witnesses, thank you for being here today and for your patience regarding our democracy and votes. With that, I will call this meeting adjourned.
Thank you.