International Trade Committee on Nov. 25th, 2013

[Stephen Ross]

No, we haven't spoken specifically about CETA. We were talking about foreign companies working in Canada, low-cost companies.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Merrifield]

Are you generally supportive of CETA or not?

[Stephen Ross]

Yes, we're very supportive of the principle of CETA, but again it comes back to the fair trade side of things when it comes to labour costs. That's the part we're concerned about.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Merrifield]

That's always the issue. When NAFTA was signed, we had the wine industry thinking that it was the end of the world for them and they went from $100 million to $6 billion with the industry over the 18 to 20 years. It's always the private sector trying to catch the opportunities in these agreements because government to government we just set the playing field, and hopefully we set it in a way that the private sector will be able to—

[Stephen Ross]

I would like to comment on that because you are correct. We were a little intimidated, too, in 1994 with the free trade agreement with the United States. Again, we felt that when you look at the numbers as far as labour cost inputs were concerned it was fair. We're not so certain about some of the countries that we're going in with here on the other side.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Merrifield]

Just on that, the agreement with NAFTA has been actually very quite successful, but buy American clauses actually go against the intent of the NAFTA and that's what's hurt you the worst.

[Stephen Ross]

Exactly.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Merrifield]

With that I want to thank you very much for your testimony, Mr. Delaney, Mr. Campbell, and Mr. Ross. We appreciate it very much. That draws this session to a close. We look forward to an opportunity to spend a little bit of time later this evening. Thank you.

The meeting is adjourned.