International Trade Committee on Oct. 24th, 2006

[Ron Hagmann]

Okay.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Thank you.

Monsieur Cardin.

We'll then go to some other business afterwards.

[Serge Cardin, Bloc, Sherbrooke, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a short question for you.

Clause 17(1) states the following:

17(1)The Governor in Council may, on the recommendation of the Minister for International Trade [...] exempt [...] the export of softwood lumber products [...]

Subclause 22(2) further stipulates:

(2) [...] exempt persons or classes of persons [...]

Supposedly products, regions or persons can be exempted, but doesn't the agreement -- and I'm going by memory here --clearly stipulate somewhere that ultimately the United States are the ones who decide who gives out subsidies or engages in a kind of dumping? Isn't there a contradiction here, a pretense on the part of the government of allowing certain exemptions when ultimately, the United States will have the final word?

[Paul Robertson]

I've checked with my colleague. As you recall, Mr. Cardin, you're quite correct in that the agreement envisages further negotiations to create further exemptions.

First of all, the work has to establish the criteria to review possible exemptions. The working group that's been envisaged to work on it is tasked with reporting back within 18 months of its formulation as to possible further exemptions. It does not mean the work will not continue past 18 months, but the work is a priority that will have to be addressed at the outset of the coming into force, which of course is what will be done.

I've checked with my colleague. I think the clause you refer to is such that at the end of that time or any time during the life of the agreement, if other exemptions are included as a result of negotiations between parties, it then provides the authority to bring those into effect.

John, is there anything more on that?

[John Clifford]

No, that's quite right. By having clause 17, Canada would be able to provide exemptions without having to come back to Parliament. The softwood lumber agreement is a living instrument that contemplates future arrangements. It provides an ability, in subclause 17(1), for example, to exempt exports from a region if Canada and the United States agree that it's appropriate.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Thank you all, gentlemen, for coming. I think you've gotten us off to a good start in dealing with Bill C-24. Your input and help today is much appreciated.

We have some other business to deal with, and we have to be out of the room by 11 o'clock. On Thursday's meeting, it will be just a 9 to 11 o'clock meeting, because the witness for whom we were going to extend the meeting, Mr. Feldman, can't come. So it'll be a 9 to 11 meeting, as scheduled.

I remind you that any amendments members of the committee would like to bring on Bill C-24 should be to the clerk by Friday.

For next Tuesday, Mr. Julian, you've asked to have Mr. Feldman fit into the program. Would 30 minutes at the start of the meeting be appropriate?

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Since Mr. Feldman can't make it to Ottawa on Thursday, I'd like to suggest that the three witnesses I've put forward should be heard next Tuesday, and that the trade officials should come back. There are a lot of questions we still have to ask on this briefing on Bill C-24, and I've not exhausted my questions by any means. I'm sure it's the same with other members.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

So you're suggesting that we cancel the meeting on Thursday ?

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

I'm suggesting that we have the trade officials back on Thursday. There are still questions to be asked there. I'm also suggesting that Mr. Feldman, who can't come on Thursday, appear next Tuesday.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Okay, Mr. Julian.

Ms. Guergis.

[Helena Guergis, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

From the sound of it, I don't think that's something I would be opposed to. I mean, we're prepared to allow Mr. Feldman to come in for 30 extra minutes at the Tuesday meeting. Can you remind me what was originally scheduled for the Tuesday meeting?

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

At the Tuesday meeting, we were supposed to be starting clause-by-clause. Mr. Julian is suggesting that the witnesses scheduled to come on Thursday be rescheduled for Tuesday, assuming this could be arranged. The clause-by-clause would be Thursday. We'd have to be prepared to extend the Thursday meeting in case we can't get done in the normal two hours.

[Helena Guergis, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

I'm comfortable with that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Mr. Julian.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

I'm not sure I follow you, Mr. Chair. So Thursday we would have the trade officials back?

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

It sounds like there's a willingness on the part of the government—I can't speak for the other parties—to accommodate you. This would mean moving the witnesses scheduled to come this Thursday to next Tuesday's meeting, having three witnesses for the full two hours. We'd go to clause-by-clause on Thursday, with the understanding that we might need to extend the Thursday meeting. We're talking about Thursday of next week.

Mr. Julian is suggesting that we have the trade officials back again this Thursday. He said there were more questions to ask. If there are, I'd like the thoughts of the committee on this very quickly, because the next meeting is about to start.

Mr. Harris.

[Dick Harris, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Mr. Chairman, am I to understand that the committee had originally scheduled next week, both Tuesday and Thursday, for the clause-by-clause? Now we're going to substitute witnesses on Tuesday, which means that we may need to extend the Thursday sitting to try to make up the time we would have lost on Tuesday.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

If need be.

[Dick Harris, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Okay. Great.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Agreed.

There is one other thing. We have a steering committee meeting tomorrow to deal with the trade policy study issue and with Mr. Julian's motions. There are some things we will discuss on this topic at tomorrow's steering committee.

Mr. Cannan.

[Ron Cannan, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Is that a subcommittee meeting tomorrow?

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

That's the steering committee. It's tomorrow at 3:30. Location? I'm sorry, I don't have it in front of me. We will get the notice on the room to members of the steering committee.

Thank you, everybody. This meeting is adjourned.