International Trade Committee on Nov. 27th, 2007

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

We're about ready to begin. Just before we start, there's some housekeeping stuff to take care of.

First of all, let me introduce Dan Shaw, who's with the research group. Dan was apparently on one of the trips last year and handled the Southeast Asia side, so if we happen to have questions as we deal with that report later, Dan is here for that purpose.

In addition, there are others here from the Library of Parliament. They're observing the committee and may sometimes be alternates at this committee. If and when we go in camera today, I would ask for the consensus of the committee that we allow those members of the Library of Parliament to remain with us during that period.

Do I just generally have concurrence that the Library of Parliament people sitting over here could stay with us during the in camera session?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Thank you.

In addition to that, there are a couple of housekeeping items. One is, as you may be aware, Bill S-2, an act to amend the Canada-United States Tax Convention Act 1984, was read for the second time and referred to this committee on Monday. So we have that coming. I just wanted to make sure that the committee was aware of that. It's a Senate bill that's been referred to this committee. My understanding is that it passed unanimously in the Senate, and that it's not particularly controversial in any way.

It is our obligation at this committee to deal with it, so I just want to have it in your heads. We could deal with it quickly, if you want, or we can schedule it at the beginning of a subsequent meeting. Maybe we'll give people a day or two to look at the thing and see if there's any reason we want to have an extended debate on it. My sense is that the Senate would like to get this thing through the committee and back for third reading.

The other thing is the clerk has presented me with a proposed budget for the proposed study on the Canada-Korea free trade agreement. This, again, is routine stuff to cover witness expenses and that sort of thing. I think we're all aware that if it's under $40,000 it doesn't have to go for approval of the Liaison Committee. The clerk has proposed the budget, and coincidentally it comes to $39,550. I don't imagine we'll spend anywhere near that amount, but we have that flexibility, depending on how long we go and how many witnesses we call.

If I might ask someone to move that motion, we could dispense with it right now.

Mr. Dhaliwal moves that the proposed operational budget for the study of the proposed Canada-Korea free trade agreement in the amount of $39,550 for the period of 2007-08 be adopted.

(Motion agreed to)

Mr. Cannan.

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

Mr. Chair, just looking around the room and thinking about how we're going on to the orders of the day, and talking about the extra staff we have, and how long it's taken to debate the other motions, and I know how much time the analysts have put into the report, I was wondering if we could just deal with the report first, and then deal with the motion from Mr. Julian.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

I'm sorry, you wanted to continue—

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

Finish off the report.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

The report on Southeast Asia that we're dealing with.

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

Yes. I just felt we rushed through it last meeting.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

I don't think it's going to take very long to get through.

Does he need a motion to do that, or is that just a suggestion? Is there a need for it? What's the preference of the committee here?

Mr. Julian.

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

Mr. Chairman, I'm not sure the motion will take long. It's a very common-sense motion. I agree with you, certainly, that the committee report won't take long. In fact, last meeting we actually got through about three-quarters of the report. I don't believe Mr. Cannan's motion is really necessary.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Does anybody else want to comment?

Mr. Pallister.

[Brian Pallister, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Other members have more experience with Mr. Julian's motions than I, but I know that at the last meeting we allocated 15 minutes and it took an hour and a half to deal with his motion.

I'm speaking in support of the suggestion that we finish the report. I'm in agreement with Mr. Julian on that point, at least. I don't think it will take long. Then we would have an abundance of time to deal with whatever measures Mr. Julian might suggest later.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Before we continue, there are two things we're dealing with today. We're discussing the order, just so we're clear.

Mr. Miller.

[Larry Miller, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

My only comment is that I had to leave the other day to catch a plane, but it sounds like it went very quickly, and it sounds like it could be wrapped up. Why keep staff sitting here for the full meeting when I'm sure they have things they'd like to do.

Let's get the report done and get it out of the way and deal with the motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Mr. Julian, again.

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

This portion of the meeting is open to the public. Mr. Cannan is proposing that we make this a closed meeting and ask folks who are here for the public portion of the meeting to come back in an hour, or an hour and a half. I don't think that's reasonable, Mr. Chair. We have a schedule. It was publicly posted. There are folks who are here to see the discussion of the motion.

I spoke for all of three minutes on a motion last week. Mr. Pallister took considerably longer. So if he refines his comments, I'm sure we'll get through the motion rather quickly.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Mr. Julian is quite correct that we would have to move in camera to consider the report.

Do we need to prolong this? We have a speakers list here. Please get the attention of the clerk if you want to speak.

I see we have Mr. Allison, Mr. Pallister, and Mr. Cardin on the list.

Mr. Allison.

[Dean Allison, Conservative, Niagara West—Glanbrook, ON]

Mr. Chair, I want to offer a suggestion to Mr. Julian. We would not necessarily need to go in camera to finish off the report. It could remain open, could it not?

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

No, the report is still confidential. We remain in camera until it gets approved by the committee. Mr. Julian is quite correct.

Mr. Pallister.

[Brian Pallister, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

I wouldn't want the record to show yet another misstatement by Mr. Julian on the issue of the amount of time he spoke. I think any elementary perusal of the records of our discussion would certainly confirm that he was amply rewarded and very verbose in terms of his opportunities to discuss his motion. I wouldn't want anyone to think he was deprived of an opportunity to speak or that he didn't avail himself of such an opportunity. He certainly did.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Mr. André.

[Guy André, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

I think we should stick to the agenda that was agreed upon, if we want to make some headway. People are here and the second part of the meeting will be in camera. Those in attendance want to hear the committee speak to Mr. Julian's motion. Let's move along and vote, because otherwise, we will waste time discussing the motion and we will not get around to examining the report. Is there anyone, I ask, who does not want to examine the report? We need to move forward and stick to the agenda.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

I'm sorry, Mr. Cardin, I think you were to speak next.

[Serge Cardin, Bloc, Sherbrooke, QC]

My colleague covered just about everything I had to say. I thought that by now, Mr. Julian's motion would have been adopted and that we would have turned our attention to the report. Let's get on with this as quickly as possible, Mr. Chairman, out of respect for the people here in the room who surely came because of Mr. Julian's notice of motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Mr. Bains.