International Trade Committee on Dec. 6th, 2010

Evidence of meeting #38 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 panama.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Bill C-46, An Act to implement the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the Republic of Panama, the Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Republic of Panama and the Agreement on Labour Cooperation between Canada and the Republic of Panama

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Francisco Carlo Escobar Pedreschi Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Panama to Canada, Embassy of the Republic of Panama

Francisco Alvarez de Soto Ambassador Chief Trade Negotiator, Deputy Minister, International Trade Negotiations, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Government of Panama

Brigitte Alepin Writer, Expert on Fiscal Policy and Public Finance, As an Individual

Alain Deneault Sociology Researcher, Université du Québec à Montréal

Jean-Michel Laurin Vice-President, Global Business Policy, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters

5:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Lee Richardson

Again, sorry for the short time. We're going to do all of this again on Wednesday. We'll try to move it along a little more quickly.

First of all, let me say to our witnesses before we conclude, thank you again for coming. I'm sorry about the time. We want to hear as many witnesses as we can, and we do have your statements. You were very helpful, all of you. Thank you very much.

To the committee, let me say that we're going to have on Wednesday the last of our witnesses, who were cancelled inadvertently last week because of votes. We'll have three out of the four of them back on Wednesday, meaning that we will have had all of the witnesses who indicated they wanted to appear. So my suggestion is that we then proceed on Monday next with clause-by-clause consideration of this bill.

So the last witnesses are on Wednesday.

Mr. Julian.

5:30 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

Mr. Chair, I have no objections, but I would just like to double-check to make sure we've caught all of the witnesses. I understand your concerns about going to clause-by-clause.

I think there's one, and possibly two, that still—

5:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Lee Richardson

I tried to raise that last week so we could get them here. We've been quite diligent in pursuing all of those we've heard anything about. If there are more, I would probably have room for one more on Wednesday. But I think we've given a fair amount of time and made a considerable effort to try to hear them all.

In any event, let's proceed on that basis until further notice. We'll see you Wednesday.

Did you have something to add?

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

Martha Hall Findlay Liberal Willowdale, ON

Is there not a meeting the following Wednesday, the last Wednesday?

5:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Lee Richardson

We may have, but I don't have an agenda yet. I'm hoping we'll either proceed to something new or not have a meeting on that Wednesday.

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

Martha Hall Findlay Liberal Willowdale, ON

Okay. I just wasn't sure if we've actually had that discussion yet.

5:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Lee Richardson

No, we haven't had the discussion about the Wednesday before the break, presumably. We can't be presumptuous about when Parliament breaks. That is always in flux at this time of the year. But we'll get to it the day before, in any event.

Thank you for your attendance today.

We're adjourned.