International Trade Committee on May 19th, 2016

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

To speak quickly to your preamble point on trade, another point I would make is that there is lots of research—both our own, but also academic research—showing that trade is a driver of productivity.

[Dave Van Kesteren, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

We have about 300 years worth of—

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Right. Industries that are engaged in trade tend to be more productive. It makes a business more productive.

[Dave Van Kesteren, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

Absolutely.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

In terms of the consultations, my own direct experience has been quite.... I've been hearing a broad variety of views, just as you all have.

[Dave Van Kesteren, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

Can you narrow them down to probably five or six points?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Yes, I will. I think there is somewhat of a regional breakdown.

When I did consultations in Edmonton, particularly—we've talked about the agricultural sector—I heard strong support from agricultural producers.

[Dave Van Kesteren, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

I'm talking about the concerns of those groups.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Okay.

[Dave Van Kesteren, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

I mean the concerns of that group—the NGOs, the civil society.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Okay. Among areas of concern, I would say a big area, which you have heard here....

I think you had Jim Balsillie and Michael Geist speak to the committee. I've spoken to both of them. We had an early consultation.

I would say there is a kind of academic community “intellectual property” area of concerns. Those have been well articulated. I think there is an area of concern as well, and I think Michael Geist speaks to this, around the investment chapter and concerns with it.

You referred in your own remarks to the auto sector. I've heard concerns. I wanted to speak to people who work in the car industry, so I had a meeting in Oakville with Unifor workers, and I've heard both concerns voiced there, at that union worker level.

[Dave Van Kesteren, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

I'm sorry. How much time do I have?

[The Chair, Liberal, Mark Eyking]

You have about half a minute.

[Dave Van Kesteren, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

I'm sorry. I don't mean to be rude, but I—

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

That's okay. You asked me to list five, so I was trying to go through them for you.

[Dave Van Kesteren, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

Let me help you. These are the concerns we heard from those groups: one, delay of generic drugs—they think our health care system is going to be affected—two, that it threatens supply management; three, massive job losses....

I'm glad Steve Verheul is here, because I want to talk to him about that. This thing was drafted for major corporations. I want to get that clarified.

—four, that it is dangerous for first nations; five, the photosanitary issue; and six, foreign workers.

I think if we all agree on foreign trade, it might be a good thing to address these things to alleviate some of the concerns in those areas.

[The Chair, Liberal, Mark Eyking]

Minister, your time is almost up—

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

I think it would be a good idea, but I think my time is up.

[The Chair, Liberal, Mark Eyking]

—but if you want to, make a final half-minute comment, because time is up.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

I have to leave now. I'm sorry. The Canada-U.S. cabinet committee is really important, and I'm really pleased the ambassador is here to speak to us.

Thanks for your questions. As a final comment, and I mean this really sincerely, not politically, I think it's very important that this is a cross-party committee; the NDP and the Conservative voices here are really important. It's really important that we have a national discussion about trade.

On some of the specific negotiating questions, I know my officials have been available. I'm happy for officials to be available.

I'd also like to make a suggestion. If it's okay with you all, I would love to have a real conversation about CETA at some point. We're getting closer, and I think it's going to be a very important, groundbreaking agreement for Canada.

I haven't spoken at length with Tracey about it, but my fantasy scenario is that we have unanimous support in Parliament for this groundbreaking deal.

I've now told her what I'm looking for.

[The Chair, Liberal, Mark Eyking]

Thank you, Minister, for coming. We're looking forward to your coming back.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Okay, thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Mark Eyking]

Members, we're not going to suspend and we're not going to go in camera yet. There's a bit of homework that we have to do here.

We have a little bit of business to do here before we go in camera.

It's called the Canadian Commercial Corporation.

[Tracey Ramsey, NDP, Essex, ON]

I have a point of order, please.

What happened earlier was that I was completely in line to raise the motion. I've submitted it to committee within 48 hours and I would like to read it into the record.

[The Chair, Liberal, Mark Eyking]

Yes, you can. You're right. We're not in camera right now, so you can read it in.