Evidence of meeting #36 for International Trade in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was support.
A recording is available from Parliament.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
It's an amendment on Mr. Brison's amendment, and I'll speak to it, Mr. Chair.
There are free trade agreements that are problematic. In many cases there are fair trade agreements that I think any of my colleagues across the way might disagree with. I think if we're talking about trade generally and market access, we certainly have--
Conservative
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
Well, that's not true, but that's a subject for another debate.
Mr. Chair, I think by eliminating that and making it simply trade access, which I think we would all agree with.... The trade access comes indeed from the kinds of investments and promotion that the beef industry has been pitching for. Very clearly we have heard that industries are underfunded and Canada is not on a level playing field. That is very true.
How those agreements are conceived and whether it's the type of agreement, like MERCOSUR--that is actually much more fair trade oriented and talks about social policies and social objectives--or agreements where there are binding social, environmental, and labour standards, those kinds of agreements are the cutting edge and those are the ones that are emerging more and more. So given that this government unfortunately continues to rely on an old trade model that has been rejected--when you look at the chapter 11 provisions, even by the United States--we have a template that simply is not in keeping with where the world is going.
I think Mr. Brison's amendment would be acceptable to everybody around the table if we deleted what kind of trade agreement we're talking about: a more progressive fair trade agreement or a more regressive old-style free trade agreement. In that way I think we could have consensus that would allow us to move forward.
I know the beef and cattle industry are looking for that. That is pretty important to them, because for every additional dollar of federal government spending on promotions, they get a lot more supports and a lot more increase in sales than any one trade agreement would allow them to get.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Lee Richardson
Okay.
Moving right along, on the subamendment, Mr. Julian has proposed to delete the word “free” from Mr. Brison's amendment. Is there any further discussion of this subamendment?
Mr. Brison.
Liberal
Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
If I may, I would like to add something, Mr. Chair.
The beef farmers I speak with through the organization are very clear that they want free trade. They want access to markets and our support in principle and in reality for free trade agreements. I disagree with Mr. Julian on this, and I would not support that. We'll have a vote shortly and dispense with this, but I certainly would not support diluting this.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Lee Richardson
Fine.
If there's no further debate on the subamendment, we'll vote on the subamendment first of all before we continue debate on the amendment. The subamendment would have Mr. Brison's motion amended by deleting the word “free”.
(Subamendment negatived)
The subamendment fails.
We will revert to our speakers list for the amendment, as proposed by Mr. Brison, “that the committee urge the government to move quickly to negotiate additional free trade agreements that reduce tariffs and improve market access for Canadian products”.
Mr. Holder.
Conservative
Ed Holder Conservative London West, ON
Thank you very much.
I know, Mr. Chair, you've heard from all the parties now. If I might, I'd offer these comments. I'm prepared to support this amendment. What the beef and cattle industry want is a free trade agreement. That's what they clearly told us. What's not lost on me in all of this, if you imagine this, is that we have the United States who have enforced 17 free trade agreements around the world. We have Mexico with 31 free trade deals around the world. Canada is in the single digits, and I think that's a shameful thing. If we can move this along without having any more filibustering in the House or at this committee, and we can make this happen, that will be better for the cattle and beef industry, better for Canada, and frankly better for Colombia.
Conservative
Conservative
Dick Harris Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
Mr. Chairman, let me just say that the riding of Cariboo—Prince George has maybe the second-largest cattle industry in Canada within it. Albertans would agree with that, I'm sure. I attend the Cattlemen's Association meetings on a regular basis, and if there's one message they give to me, it's “Get the damned thing going. Get the free trade going.”
I'll tell you the cattle producers in my riding want that free trade, and they want it expanded as quickly as possible. The cattle farmers in Mr. Julian's riding may have a different approach to that, but certainly my producers are loud and clear when they speak about free trade, notwithstanding what the cattle producers in Mr. Julian's riding have to say.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Lee Richardson
Okay, I think we've heard from each of the parties on this matter. So that we do not become redundant, I'm going to ask the question on Mr. Brison's amendment.
(Amendment agreed to)
The amendment carries.
We will now revert to discussion of the amended motion. Is there any further debate on the amended motion? I think we've heard the views.
Then I'll call the question on the amended motion, and I'll ask the clerk to read out the motion as amended.
The Clerk of the Committee Mr. Jean-Marie David
That the Committee urge the government to support the marketing of Canadian cattle and beef exports by increasing the government’s promotional budget for Canadian beef, which is currently underfunded, to a level that establishes an equal playing field with Canada’s main competitors, including Australia and the United States. Furthermore, that the Committee urge the government to move quickly to negotiate additional free trade agreements that reduce tariffs and improve market access for Canadian products, and that the Committee report this to the House.
(Motion agreed to)
Conservative
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Since we've just agreed to have a committee report go to the House, what I would like to propose--this is a normal courtesy that's given to all members around the table--is that a supplementary opinion of up to half a page be provided to the chair by the end of this week so that this report can be tabled in the House next week.
November 17th, 2009 / 12:20 p.m.
Conservative
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
The motion is a report, Mr. Chair. This committee has decided that. This would allow an opportunity for a half a page and it would allow the Conservatives a chance to explain their position as well.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Lee Richardson
That's very courteous of you to bring that the attention of the Conservatives, who obviously overlooked this opportunity.
Liberal
Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
Mr. Chair, I think we should celebrate the fact that Mr. Julian supports free trade.
Liberal
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Lee Richardson
We will report to the House Mr. Julian's motion that the committee urge the government to move more quickly and negotiate additional free trade agreements. The opportunity is there. We'll have to prepare a report for the House, and if there are supplementary or complementary reports that you want appended to the motion, I leave that opportunity to all parties.
NDP
