Evidence of meeting #117 for International Trade in the 42nd Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was cptpp.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Director General, Trade Negotiations, and Deputy Chief Negotiator, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
I just want to make sure we know which motion you're referring to, because I think Mr. Christie's answer was on motion 5. Are you now referring to motion 6?
Director General, Trade Negotiations, and Deputy Chief Negotiator, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Thanks.
To answer that question—because we are in a position where we could provide a reaction—our interpretation of the proposed amendment is that it would require Canada to not only publish its expenses but also to publish the expenses of all CPTPP parties.
Director General, Trade Negotiations, and Deputy Chief Negotiator, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
As it's worded, though, the amendment would require that, so we would not be comfortable making a decision on something like that unilaterally.
Conservative
Director General, Trade Negotiations, and Deputy Chief Negotiator, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
It would require us to publish the expenses of all parties, because....
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Mark Eyking
Okay, I have two of you.
Go ahead, Mr. Hoback, if you have something quick. Then if Ms. Ramsey wants to, she can go back.
Conservative
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
I have a suggestion, then, because what you're saying might have implications for other countries.
This is something you could ask the Parliamentary Budget Officer to do on a yearly basis. You would provide the information to him on only the Canadian specifics. That probably would be more in his venue than tied to this agreement. Would that be fair to say?
I guess what I'm asking leads to what the role of the PBO is, but....
Director General, Trade Negotiations, and Deputy Chief Negotiator, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
It is something we have not done in the past. It would represent a policy change, and that is something that, as officials sitting here at this exact second, we can't take a decision on. It would be something we haven't done before.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Mark Eyking
That's all good.
Ms. Ramsey, do you have some final comments on your amendment?
NDP
Tracey Ramsey NDP Essex, ON
I actually want to pose a question to the legislative clerk. I don't know if there's anything that the legislative clerks can offer, if there's any change that could be made to this amendment to have it only be reflecting Canada, to be a piece of our domestic policy as opposed to requiring all member states to do this within the agreement.
I mean, we are looking at the implementation of this agreement, and this is a Canadian bill in the Canadian Parliament, so what could we do legislatively to put this into the agreement?
The Clerk
If you wish to change the wording, you can, with the unanimous consent of the committee, withdraw the amendment. Alternatively, someone could move a subamendment or we could have a vote on it and then you could move a different one, with the wording that you prefer. I'm not in a position to give you a different wording right now.
NDP
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Mark Eyking
My understanding is if you want to change your amendment, you would have to get agreement, I guess, and then you—
NDP
Tracey Ramsey NDP Essex, ON
—or do I put on a subamendment? Do I move for a subamendment or do I move unanimous consent to remove this?
The Clerk
One way is to have unanimous consent to withdraw it. The other is to vote on it and then propose a new one—