Evidence of meeting #18 for International Trade in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was colombia.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
Thank you very much.
You said that you are an academic. What do you teach?
5:15 p.m.
Professor, As an Individual
Political science and Latin American politics especially.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
I see.
A trade agreement is economic. It's agricultural. It's not necessarily political science. It actually has a lot to do with economics, and of course you could argue human rights, you could argue agricultural sustainability. You've made the statement that you as an academic are better informed than the average Colombian voter, which strikes me as being somewhat culturally condescending. Do you view yourself as an expert on agricultural policy, in addition to political science, sir?
5:15 p.m.
Professor, As an Individual
I'm a political economist, in fact. I studied the agrarian sector of Colombia, yes. Because I have studied the conflict of Colombia, I know exactly what is happening in the rural economy and its impact on the overall conflict. So yes, I can answer that.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
The only political party in Colombia that is against these FTAs is the Polo party. In the congressional elections, they garnered 7%. In the most recent polling in the presidential elections, they are garnering 5%. Are you saying that 95% of Colombians are wrong?
5:15 p.m.
Professor, As an Individual
It's not that they are wrong or right. Basically what I am trying to tell you is that we are academics and we have studied the issue, and based on empirical studies, we anticipate that several sectors of the rural economy will be impacted negatively. It's not hearsay. It's empirical, and we know it. We know exactly the vulnerable sectors.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
I remember that in the 1988 election in Canada, it was predicted that Canada's wine industry would be eliminated by a free trade agreement. That's what the academics were telling ordinary Canadians at the time, and our wine sector has in fact flourished since that election. Even academics can be wrong sometimes, sir.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
You say that as an academic you have empirical evidence as to what this agreement will do to agriculture. Don't you believe that average Colombian workers or Colombian people who want to get a job to help advance their families deserve the opportunity to determine what is best for themselves?
5:20 p.m.
Liberal
Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
Then you would support the 95% of Colombians who vote for parties that support these free trade agreements.
5:20 p.m.
Professor, As an Individual
I think the line of questioning is basically....
We should be more informed than the average citizen, because we are making policy here. If you are making policy, you should anticipate the implications of your policy. The regular layman in Canada or the United States or Colombia will not anticipate all the consequences of a given policy. That is our function, as experts and as students. It is not condescending. It's a fact. With all due respect, this is the way it is.
Therefore we need to make informed decisions regarding the implications of a given policy. We are anticipating. We could be wrong. I hope I'm wrong. I wish I were wrong.
We are not claiming that I have access, but we have a number of empirical studies, even studies conducted by the ministry of agriculture in Colombia. We know exactly which sectors will be impacted. The cattle ranches, for instance--the small producers--are going to be impacted negatively. We know the lecheros, meaning the producers of milk, are being affected. The producers of beans are being affected. Wheat, corn, and rice production is declining. It's not a guessing game. We have the figures and we have the statistics.
5:20 p.m.
Liberal
Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
Have you done analysis of what the effect will be on the illegal drug trade in Colombia?
5:20 p.m.
Professor, As an Individual
We have done a little bit, yes. I can make reference to a paper that I wrote recently. I can send it to you.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
May 25th, 2010 / 5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Bradley Trost Conservative Saskatoon—Humboldt, SK
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'll follow up with Mr. Richani, not that we are picking on you in any way, shape, or form.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Bradley Trost Conservative Saskatoon—Humboldt, SK
You're like most politicians--you love the attention.
Agriculture is probably one of the areas Canada hopes to expand most in its trade with Colombia. Perhaps you can correct me; perhaps I was misinformed when I was down there. I have been down on a couple of trips to Colombia. It is my understanding that Colombia imports most of its wheat, most of its barley, most of its oats, and most of its lentils, whereas it produces most of its beans internally. Is that correct?
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Bradley Trost Conservative Saskatoon—Humboldt, SK
Are you aware that beans and lentils, while they are both very good protein sources for meals for everyone involved, are treated very differently for tariff purposes under this free trade agreement?
5:20 p.m.
Professor, As an Individual
I'm aware that you called it the agreement toward the elimination of the Andean price band system, which affects the production of wheat, barley, lentils, and peas--
