International Trade Committee on March 9th, 2010

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

Respectfully to my colleague and friend, Mr. Keddy, we all realize that it's subject to the minister's schedule, but a committee is a function of Parliament, and Parliament hasn't been taking up a lot of the minister's time over the last while. I just think it's very important to realize that we have a fiduciary responsibility as parliamentarians, which is quite separate from that of the executive branch of government and the cabinet. Both the government members and the opposition members share in a responsibility to hold the government to account.

So yes, I agree that it's obviously subject to the minister's schedule, but having served as a minister, I made appearing before committees a priority. That's something I think any minister of any government, regardless of party, ought to make a priority. That stands us in good stead with Canadians, who have chosen this Parliament.

[An hon. member]

Hear, hear!

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

I'm sure you're an example of a minister we'd like to emulate.

Mr. Cannis.

[John Cannis, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

In light of what was discussed, when I first heard my friend Mr. Keddy's comments I totally accepted, but it's an open-ended response and it's an open-ended timeframe. As I've stated here on the record before, we all appreciate the schedules of the ministers and so on, but I think it would be fair to all of us to maybe work within certain parameters, certain timeframes. As Mr. Brison said, what we're trying to accomplish vis-à-vis Canada-U.S. relations is very important. I, too, put that at the top of our priority list since they are our biggest trading partner. I'm not necessarily saying it has to be in one week or two weeks or three weeks, but I would certainly say, Mr. Chairman, that within a month and a half or two at the most, the minister should find some time to come before this committee.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

We don't need to presume what the minister's response may or may not be to an invitation that has yet to be extended. I think it's sufficient to say that the minister will come when he can come, should he be invited, but we won't know that until we extend the invitation. So I'm happy with it as is.

Do we have a reasonable preamble to this? Fine. It would be:

That in the context of a broader study of Canada/U.S. trade relations, the Committee hold hearings regarding the Canada/U.S. agreement on government procurement, signed by the Canadian government with the Obama Administration, and which came into force February 16, 2010, its impact on Canadian communities, businesses and employment, and that the committee invite the Minister of International Trade in this regard.

Mr. Keddy, do you have a final comment?

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

Just in line with the enlightenment offered by Mr. Brison and Mr. Cannis--and I appreciate their comments--I will reiterate what I said before, which is that there's a very heavy and busy trade schedule. The minister is travelling a lot. So, yes, I very much don't want to speak for him, and wouldn't, regarding a specific date.

The idea of the minister coming to the committee is great. I've sat on many committees over the years, and the only time you ever saw a minister was for your budgetary items, and most of the time they didn't come for that. So if we could get him, I think that would be to the benefit of all of us and that would work well.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

That's all very helpful, however hypothetical. We haven't as yet extended an invitation, so let's not be presumptuous either way.

That's all I have on the list. We have a motion in front of us. I think it's clear to everyone.

Monsieur Guimond, are you okay with your motion? You understand it?

[Claude Guimond, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Yes, this is good.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

There you go.

Mr. Silva is calling for the question. I think he has a pressing engagement.

Those in favour of the motion, please raise your hand. Any opposed?

It's unanimous then.

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Very good. We will begin on Thursday with consideration of this motion. In the meantime, if anybody has any quick suggestions for witnesses, we have to start someplace. It wouldn't surprise me if Mr. Julian had at least one witness up his sleeve, but I wonder if, in the interest of the committee and just general knowledge, we might ask the department for a briefing on the issue prior to commencement of the discussion.

So I would say that for the first meeting on Thursday, if we could do that, Mr. Clerk, we would extend an invitation to the department to provide a briefing on this matter. That would be at 3:30 on Thursday, and it would be followed by another witness, if we could get one on that short notice. I think Mr. Julian may have a suggestion.

Is everybody cool with that?

Mr. Cannan.

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

Sorry, just to clarify, for the agenda we'll stay on Canada and the U.S., then? Are we allocating how many we need?

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

I think we're going to leave the broader discussion of Canada-U.S. trade relations as an open topic. We will continue to come back to that and engage our American colleagues.

We'll see how long this one takes. That'll be up to the committee. We don't want to presume anything of the committee.

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

He's going to be away for three weeks.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Are you not going to be here on Thursday?

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

I'm not here on Thursday, but Mr. Allen, who is very congenial and eloquent--

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Then I'm happy to... It's your motion.

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

--and a much better choice.

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

Why don't we just discuss the timetable this Thursday?

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Yes.

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

It doesn't make a difference. Mr. Allen is our representative for the next three meetings.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

It's your motion. If you would like us to hold off for a couple of weeks, that's fine with us. We can talk about future business.

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

No.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Well, let's have one meeting and see if we get through it on Thursday.

Scott, you seem puzzled.

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

No.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

I think we are in agreement that we'll do that on Thursday. We'll have a brief time on Thursday to nail down some future business as well.

Thank you for attending. We'll see you at 3:30 on Thursday.

The meeting is adjourned.