International Trade Committee on Oct. 27th, 2010

[John Cannis, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Mr. Chair, I'll wrap it up.

I'll just begin with the closing comments from my good friend, David Hutton. That's the difficult part, and that's actually the embarrassing part. When we go abroad and they do their proper receptions and their networking...and then when we want to reciprocate, when we want to invite them over, our hands are literally tied. To your organization, I say this with great sadness, it's with governments. I'm not saying the current government, but all governments--even when we were in government, and you know that very well.

Mr. Chairman, maybe that's something, if we want to be part of this.... Mr. Hutton said earlier, and I quote, “If we don't grow up and realize”, and I think he stopped there because of his great respect for this committee, this institution, and the country. Really, what he meant is if we don't grow up and start putting our money where our mouth is, we're just going to be missing the boat. I'm making a statement here, because one thing Mr. Hutton said earlier also is he talked about continuity, relationships long term, and I thank him for the reference to me.

Ms. Harrison said we have to spend a little time.

You're absolutely right, Ms. Harrison, but we have to spend a little money.

[Martha Harrison]

That's true.

[John Cannis, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

You have to invest a dollar to make a dollar.

I recall very clearly, and I'll go back to that meeting when we had invited our ambassadors from that region some years ago.

David, you were ambassador at that time to the U.A.E. What they told us, basically, Mr. Chair and colleagues, was that Canadian representation is there, but through other countries: the United States, etc. We weren't sharp enough as Canadians to get out there and do our thing.

So companies like SNC-Lavalin might be there, but they're certainly not getting the kind of support that other companies from other countries--the United States, for example, or European companies--are getting from their respective governments. I think that's something we need to do, and we should emphasize it in this FTA, which is, hopefully, going to set a benchmark.

I'll close with this. In this relationship it takes, in my humble opinion, not just the proper investments but relationships, and more so, sensitivity and respect for the region. As we want them to respect us, our ways, we must look to do the same thing, too.

That was a statement, Mr. Chairman. If our guests wish to add something, by all means go ahead.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Perhaps I'll ask Mr. Hutton or Ms. Harrison to summarize or wrap up, in response to Mr. Cannis.

[Jean-Yves Laforest, Bloc, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Mr. Chair—

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Pardon me?

[Jean-Yves Laforest, Bloc, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

It is only that your microphone was not on. It is okay now.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

I'm sorry. I really wasn't saying very much, anyway, Monsieur Laforest.

I'm just going to ask Mr. Hutton or Ms. Harrison to wrap up on behalf of the Canada-Arab Business Council, in closing.

[David Hutton]

Mr. Chair, thank you for the generosity of your time. You've given us well over an hour, and I take that as a compliment and a reflection of your interest.

If I can speak personally, I also view international trade as almost a non-partisan issue in Canada. Therefore, again I repeat my comment that I think this committee has a particular role to play in supporting this government, the next government, and the previous government as we go forward and build this international economic relationship. I certainly compliment the government for its negotiation of this particular agreement, and quite frankly, the architecture it has put in place with our relationship in Jordan.

As Mr. Keddy said, if this is a gateway, I think it's a very sound one. So again, our appreciation and thanks.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Thank you. I must say, I think the committee really appreciates your presence here today, both of you, with the experience you have....

[Technical difficulty--Editor]

[An hon. member]

Your microphone.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Perhaps we'd welcome you back at another time as well.

Thank you again.

I'm going to take about a two-minute break here, just to allow members to bid our witnesses farewell. We'll go in camera in two minutes. Thank you.

[Proceedings continue in camera]