International Trade Committee on Nov. 7th, 2013

[Ron Cannan, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Thank you. I think that's important,

Some of us, our children or our grandchildren will benefit from the previous trade agreements moving forward. It's a very visionary agreement. As you mentioned, it's a 21st century agreement.

I've been on this committee since we formed government in January 2006. Prior to that, the Liberals had signed three free trade agreements.

Since 2006, how many agreements has our government signed? Also, is this a template for further aggressive agreements in the future?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Merrifield]

A very quick answer.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Since we were elected in 2006, we have signed trade agreements with 37 different countries, if you include the EU. Trade and investment have been the linchpin of our economic growth policy, which we call our global commerce strategy, identifying the key markets around the world that we need to open up for Canadian investors and exporters. We believe we've been very successful in doing that.

This is another milestone along the way. We have other negotiations, such as the trans-Pacific partnership. We have bilateral trade negotiations with Japan, with South Korea, with India. These are all markets that matter to Canada, and we're absolutely committed to opening them to Canadians.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Merrifield]

Thank you very much.

Now back to Mr. Davies, for five minutes.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Minister, you referred earlier to the fact that you have internal documents and studies estimating the potential increased costs for pharmaceuticals. You've also talked about your commitment to transparency.

Will you table those internal documents estimating the costs regarding pharmaceuticals with this committee in the next 30 days?

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

I think you correctly said that these are all estimates. We're talking about outcomes that will happen eight to ten years down the road. We have continued to refine those. We're trying to determine exactly what the impact will be on the sector. We cannot do that until we know what steps we will be taking to minimize the impact of that additional protection. For example, we have the ability, the tools, as a government, to speed up the process of having patents approved. Doing that, of course, will have a significant impact on whether the additional patent protection will even be needed, or to what degree it will be needed.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Minister, do you actually have a clear understanding of what the potential increased pharmaceutical costs to Canadians are or are not? Do you not have an idea of what the range may be? If so, why don't you share those with Canadians? If not, how can you expect Canadians to evaluate a deal that may or may not drive up pharmaceutical costs by a billion dollars a year? How can anybody evaluate that if they don't know and you won't tell them?

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Well, actually we have been very open and—

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Well, I'm giving you the opportunity to be open.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Merrifield]

Well, let's let him answer this question.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Listen, Mr. Davies, we are not going to provide you or the public with information that is speculative in nature. The information you've been provided is speculative.

We're saying that we are quite confident, based on the work we have done so far, that the impact on our medicines, the cost of medicines in Canada, will be mitigated by steps that we can take—

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

I understand.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

—to introduce that.

I understand that the NDP is anti-trade. We know that. You have voted against almost every trade agreement Canada has ever signed.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Minister, could you stick to the questions? Canadians want answers not politics, Mr. Minister.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Merrifield]

Just let the minister answer, Mr. Davies.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Would you not say that the proposed benefits—

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Merrifield]

Mr. Davies—

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

I have the floor, Mr. Chairman, and I—

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Merrifield]

Mr. Davies, I have the floor.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Well, if the minister's not going to answer some questions, I have limited time and I'm going to try to control a dissembling witness.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Merrifield]

Who's got the microphone?

Please shut it off.

Thank you very much.

Minister, go ahead.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Thank you.

What I was saying is these have been the most open and transparent negotiations we've ever undertaken. Every step along the way, Mr. Davies, our outcomes have been informed by the consultations we've had with the pharmaceutical industry.

In fact, it may surprise you to know that the generic industry has actually provided us with a letter, understanding that we worked very hard and in fact arrived at a balance. They have lauded us for carving out exports of generic drugs and—

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Okay.

Mr. Chairman, if I may—

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

—understanding that represents about 40% of their income.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Fast, I have other questions.