Evidence of meeting #4 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 agreement.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Ed Holder Conservative London West, ON
I hesitate to say, “what's your option?”, but I ask that with great sincerity to you, because I think we're all concerned--
As an Individual
Well, I have an answer. On the language you find in this agreement, which is committing to extending the arrangement of quick talks to extend the agreement or to consultation on a very expedited basis if there are problems that arise from this agreement, this type of language is inserted into every international trade agreement. If I had the books here, I could point out to you where it is in the free trade agreement, in NAFTA, in the 1994 agreement, and in the 1981 agreement. It's always there. It's also there generally. It was there in the GATT. It's in the WTO agreement now--on all subjects.
Now, can you imagine Canada not responding promptly to a U.S. request on a trade matter? I can't. The reverse is not always true, but they have been responsive in the past.
As I said before, you can always have an agreement if you're looking for an agreement at any cost. This is, I fear, what we did this time.
I don't understand why you say this provides a good basis to go forward--
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Lee Richardson
I'm sorry, but we can't get into that debate. We did have an answer to the question. I appreciate it.
Thank you.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Lee Richardson
That was very interesting. We started to kind of go around for the second time on some of the questions and answers, but I found it very useful, as I'm sure our members did.
So to all of our witnesses, thank you very much for your attendance today.
We are going to wrap it up now, but we'll continue this discussion again on Tuesday next. We have two witnesses lined up now. We may be able to conclude it Wednesday. If there is anyone the members would like to have appear, I think Tuesday would be a good day to do that.
Liberal
Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
Mr. Chair, when is the minister appearing before the committee on this issue?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Lee Richardson
You want the minister to appear on this issue? I knew you wanted the minister to appear on estimates.
Liberal
Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
No, on this issue, on the “Buy American”, we agreed to invite the minister.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Lee Richardson
Well, I'm sure we agreed to invite the minister. I don't know if we have had a reply. Has there been a reply? Let me just ask the question. We'll try to get the minister next week. He has been travelling out of the country on international trade business.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Lee Richardson
Yes, they're well aware of it. Our sense is that there is no hesitation to come. It's just that he has been, as I say, travelling out of the country.
With that, it looks as though the committee is saying its goodbyes, so I will say goodbye too, and we'll talk on Tuesday.
The meeting is adjourned.