Evidence of meeting #47 for International Trade in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was environmental.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Jorge H. Miranda Corona
Panama is opening a policy of looking for transparency, and we wanted to be out of the list that we were on before. That's why the government created this commission to negotiate treaties with other countries as well, to comply with international standards.
Jasbir Sandhu NDP Surrey North, BC
Can you give us some concrete examples of measures that your government has taken in Panama to allow for this exchange of information?
Jorge H. Miranda Corona
I don't have the exact figures right now. What I have is the list of the countries that we have signed treaties with, but I don't have an example here of exchanges of information.
I could ask my authorities to give me some, if you want. I am more than happy to do so.
NDP
Jasbir Sandhu NDP Surrey North, BC
Then you don't have any evidence in regard to providing us with information—
NDP
Jasbir Sandhu NDP Surrey North, BC
—that will give us an idea of what improvements Panama has made or what new laws they have brought in to be able to exchange tax information.
NDP
Jasbir Sandhu NDP Surrey North, BC
Okay. I'll move on to a different question.
What industries, what businesses, what products do you think will benefit in Panama? What sorts of industries will benefit in terms of the products that would come into our countries?
Jorge H. Miranda Corona
Our sea products are an example. You have to keep in mind that Panama does not have an agro-industrial economy. We provide mostly services, but a small percentage of our economy has agro-industrial products. That includes, for instance, products of the sea, such as raw fish. We have a small sector that could provide seafood to Canadians.
NDP
Jasbir Sandhu NDP Surrey North, BC
You would see the fishing industry and the agricultural industry in Panama benefiting with this agreement.
NDP
Jasbir Sandhu NDP Surrey North, BC
Okay.
I'll move on to another area.
Mr. Ambassador, there's an area on, I believe, the Atlantic coast that is called the Meso-American biological corridor. Are you familiar with that?
NDP
Jasbir Sandhu NDP Surrey North, BC
That area has been protected by the Panamanian government as a biological reserve, is that correct?
Jorge H. Miranda Corona
Yes. It is part of a corridor that extends from Panama to the Central American region.
NDP
Jasbir Sandhu NDP Surrey North, BC
Have you had applications from Canadian mining companies to mine in those areas?
NDP
Jorge H. Miranda Corona
Let me just say that the Inmet Mining Corporation, which is a Toronto-based company, is located in Donoso, a small city in the province of Colón. They are close to that corridor. It's my understanding that they are close to the corridor, because they are close to the Coclesito area.
My understanding is that the Canadian company is taking measures to protect the areas that they are treating. That is my understanding.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
Thank you very much.
Mr. Shory, we'll give you five minutes if you make it fast.
Conservative
Devinder Shory Conservative Calgary Northeast, AB
As always, Mr. Chair, but thank you.
Once again, Your Excellency, congratulations on your posting in Canada, and welcome to Canada from me as well.
Mr. Chair, when I see the numbers of hours and the time put in this legislation, and when I hear my colleague from the NDP.... Of course, we all know the NDP is anti-trade anyway.
It has been so detrimental to Canadian businesses. We all face these extra tariffs, which could be removed once this agreement is passed and implemented.
I am from one of the western provinces. I know that once this agreement is implemented, we definitely will have the benefit of exporting so many things, such as processed foods, etc.
I want to clarify procurement. I have a simple and clear-cut question. My Liberal colleague's comment was that we have lost 100% of the opportunities on procurement. Is that right or wrong? Is it right to say that we have some opportunities left, or are 100% of the opportunities gone in procurement?