Evidence of meeting #3 for International Trade in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was amendment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
November 22nd, 2007 / 3:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Lee Richardson
Does everybody have the gist of it? Is there any debate?
Mr. Dhaliwal.
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Because I'm one of the newest members on this committee, excuse me if I'm going out of the.... The way I look at it is Mr. Pallister brought in a pretty good suggestion, that we should also be talking about a positive tone as well.
But working on other committees, it is my understanding that when we bring in the witnesses and when they come in and talk about the negativity of this free trade agreement, they will also be talking about the positives and the strengths that it's going to bring. So the report that we will be putting together as a committee will include that.
At the bottom it also says “the committee investigate alternative ways to build and strengthen Canada's trade relationship with Korea”. It's covered there as well.
So I don't see much difference between what Mr. Julian brought in and what Mr. Pallister brought in as well. It's pretty well the same thing. It's just how you say it. That's the way I see it.
I don't know. Maybe Mr. Julian has a comment on that, but I am agreeing. In a way, both of you are saying the same thing, so I have nothing against yours and nothing against his. That's the way I feel personally.
Liberal
John Maloney Liberal Welland, ON
The biggest concern with the Canada-Korea proposed agreement is the non-tariff barriers that exist. I think we all admit that they in fact do exist. That's why I think it's important, if we were not to enter into an agreement, that we also investigate alternative ways to build and strengthen Canada's trade relationships with Korea. So I think it's important that this part of the clause be left in.
Conservative
Liberal
John Maloney Liberal Welland, ON
The section that says “that the committee investigate alternative ways to build and strengthen Canada's trade relations with Korea”. I think that's a key.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Lee Richardson
Thank you, Mr. Maloney.
Just so I'm clear.... I just want to keep everybody on the same page here.
Bloc
Serge Cardin Bloc Sherbrooke, QC
I'm not sure if you understood the English version, but the interpreter is asking people to keep their BlackBerries away from the microphones because he's having trouble hearing properly.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Lee Richardson
I don't know if everybody got that, but apparently there are some BlackBerrys near the microphone and it's interfering with the sound.
I'm going to ask the clerk to read the motion as amended by Mr. Maloney, and accepted as a friendly amendment, I take it, by Mr. Pallister.
Conservative
The Clerk
We have:
That the Standing Committee on International Trade conduct extensive hearings on the implications of the Canada-Korea bilateral agreement currently being negotiated, specifically hearing testimony from a wide variety of sectors and diverse regions of Canada
And the rest is the same.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Lee Richardson
And the rest:
and that the committee investigate alternative ways to build and strengthen Canada's trade relations with Korea, and that the committee report this to the House.
We have a speakers list.
Mr. Julian.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
Mr. Chair, the amendments have been a little confusing. We're now on the third or fourth or fifth version from the Conservatives.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Lee Richardson
We just the read the amendment, Mr. Julian. If you're confused, I can read it again.
Conservative
Brian Pallister Conservative Portage—Lisgar, MB
It would be less confusing if you didn't have this motion here.
