International Trade Committee on Feb. 12th, 2009

[Emile Rochon, Sector Development Officer, Defence and Marine Directorate, Department of Industry]

A couple of years ago the European Union placed a claim against Korea and a lot of countries joined in on that. The claim was not successful, in spite of the fact that Korea seemed to have some very extraordinary cost advantages over everybody else, or competitive advantages over everyone else.

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

All right. Thank you. That was sort of what I thought may be the concern.

Maybe just a last point, and once again, Mr. Risser, this is to you. I hear what you're saying in terms of where we've been in the last few years. Once again, I guess the proof will be in how we move forward. It's one thing to claim we're going to be sovereign, we're going to protect our waterways, and we're going to do procurement. I guess the proof will be in what we deliver.

I would hope that as an industry, though, you're encouraged by what this government signalled in terms of where we're trying to go. I think we recognize that the shipbuilding industry is important. It's certainly imperative for our sovereignty. It's certainly imperative, as you mentioned, for our Arctic, in terms of being able to deal with that issue. Based on what you've heard so far, are you encouraged by the direction that we appear to be heading in?

[Karl Risser Jr.]

I'm young so I'm easy to encourage. Yes, I'm encouraged by the direction. I'm encouraged by the words that are coming out of people like Peter MacKay. He put out a press release the other day and said we're going to do these things.

You make a good point. We'll see what comes out, but I am encouraged. I think the comment was that we have a new dance partner. If we can get this going, then yes. I'm a positive person anyway; I try not to look at things in a negative light. I give everybody the benefit of the doubt.

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

I appreciate that. The challenge is always while we're trying to look at trade deals, trying to carve out stuff, and trying to do that. I know part of it is trying to make it as long as possible, and I realize that doesn't address this today on the ground, but I think it was in the hopes that at some point in time we'd be able to catch up.

I can appreciate why it's tough to trust government. I don't even know if I need to say that. As I said, I think we're moving forward, and I hope the 10 years will give the people in the shipbuilding industry the time they need to adjust, along with other types of directions we're trying to head in. I'm just going to leave that as far as my comments go.

[Karl Risser Jr.]

One thing I would just add is that we can't do it alone. We need you guys to come on board with us.

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

As you said, procurement, sovereignty, all these things add to the picture.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Thank you, Mr. Allison, and again to the witnesses.

That does get us through our rounds of questioning. We have other committee business that we need to get to, so I think I will conclude it there. It's been very helpful. I appreciate the candid responses that everyone gave in the questioning. I think it was very well done today. I appreciate the cooperation of everybody involved.

To our witnesses, again, thank you very much for coming on short notice and providing that expert testimony. Thank you so much.

We'll take a minute here.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

We will resume the meeting.

The order of business is notice of motions. We have received notice of motions from Mr. Brison.

You have the floor.

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Chair, I will withdraw motion 2, as we've had some officials from....

For the first motion, I move that the Standing Committee on International Trade request that the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, appear before the committee during its study on Bill C-2 in order to answer questions regarding the state of Canada's shipbuilding industry.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Okay, we have a motion on the floor. Is there a seconder for that motion?

Monsieur Cardin.

[Serge Cardin, Bloc, Sherbrooke, QC]

No. I just wanted to say something.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Does Mr. Julian second the motion?

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

I so move.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Thank you.

We're going to have debate then, and the clerk will take a list. I think the first speakers I noticed were Monsieur Cardin and Mr. Keddy, and we'll proceed from there. If you want to speak to the motion, please so indicate to the clerk. We'll keep a list.

We will begin with Monsieur Cardin.

[Serge Cardin, Bloc, Sherbrooke, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

In theory, I support this motion. It would prevent us from having to move another one later one.

We have two concerns, one about the shipbuilding industry and another about supply management in the agricultural sector.

I'm wondering if Mr. Brison would be interested in adding the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food to the list. We do not have to address these concerns at the same meeting, but it's important for us to focus on these two areas, if we can use that term in connection with ministers.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

I think Monsieur Cardin appears to be asking for a friendly amendment, so I'll go to the mover of the motion and ask if he would accept that as an incorporated friendly amendment, rather than moving it as a subamendment.

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

I do not have a problem with the Minister of Agriculture appearing before the committee. However, I've heard that there were not many questions about supply management in the agricultural sector. Be that as it may, perhaps committee members could take this opportunity to ask him some questions. Therefore, I support this amendment.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

All right, the motion would then read:

That the Standing Committee on International Trade request that the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, appear before the committee during its study on Bill C-2 in order to answer questions regarding the state of Canada's shipbuilding industry, and that the committee also request the presence of the Minister of Agriculture to discuss specifically....

Monsieur Cardin, what is the Minister of Agriculture to discuss specifically?

[Serge Cardin, Bloc, Sherbrooke, QC]

I would like us to discuss the future impact of the agreement on supply management.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

...the impact on supply management of EFTA.

Oui? C'est ça?

[Serge Cardin, Bloc, Sherbrooke, QC]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Okay. That would be the motion before us. We don't need to have an amendment to the motion. We will continue debate on the motion as it began and revert to our list.

The next speaker is Mr. Keddy.

[Gerald Keddy, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margaret's, NS]

Mr. Chair, with respect, we are the committee for international trade. We have no purview to call the minister of any other department to this committee.

I think, first of all, the motion is out of order, and second, I think it is deleterious. It's meant to delay this. We have debated EFTA at great length in this Parliament. It really is at the clause-by-clause stage. Certainly it's not at the hearing witnesses stage. Supply management has been addressed in this. We have had the shipbuilders in. That has been addressed.

We can drag this out with motions, but it's not going to do us any good. And if the honourable members were interested in shipbuilding, the Minister of Industry was at the industry committee for two hours on the estimates and at that time any question could have been asked. That was a golden opportunity to ask questions in particular on shipbuilding or have someone else ask them.

I really question whether the motion is in order for us to request the appearance of a minister from another department.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

All right. We will deal with the motion. I have ruled that the motion is in order, but you certainly are at liberty to challenge the chair. I think the motion is in order that we certainly can make a request. In response to your specific points, in terms of obligation, the minister is under no obligation to accept the request, but we certainly have the purview and opportunity to invite anyone to the committee, just to clarify your point.

[Gerald Keddy, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margaret's, NS]

Thank you.