International Trade Committee on Nov. 22nd, 2016

[Kyle Peterson, Liberal, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

What does the amendment replace, Mr. Clerk? Can you clarify that?

[Gerry Ritz, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

It replaces the 12 meetings.

[The Chair, Liberal, Mark Eyking]

Go ahead.

[The Clerk]

The amendment will replace the words “consist of at least 12 meetings”, and it will allow people who have already submitted their requests to appear to submit written submissions by November 30. We discussed about setting a maximum length of 10 pages, which was the length that we accepted for TPP. The rest of the motion will be close to the same.

The written submissions, once translated, will be distributed to committee members, and they will be published on the website. That part doesn't change much.

[Peter Fonseca, Liberal, Mississauga East—Cooksville, ON]

In no way will it be able to impede the clause-by-clause consideration on December 6.

[Gerry Ritz, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

That's why there's the deadline of November 30, Peter.

[Peter Fonseca, Liberal, Mississauga East—Cooksville, ON]

Even if the translation ends up being delayed, that cannot impede the December 6 clause-by-clause study.

[The Chair, Liberal, Mark Eyking]

That's right. We're sticking to December 6, regardless.

[Tracey Ramsey, NDP, Essex, ON]

I just want to speak on the record that I feel this guts the spirit of the motion that I brought forward, but we'll vote on the amendment.

[The Chair, Liberal, Mark Eyking]

Are we ready to vote again?

(Amendment agreed to: yeas 8; nays 1)

[A voice]

Now we have to vote on the motion.

[Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal, Surrey—Newton, BC]

It's the motion as amended.

[The Chair, Liberal, Mark Eyking]

Yes, that's right.

[Gerry Ritz, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

Can you read the motion as amended?

[Kyle Peterson, Liberal, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

While you read it, we should get the translation.

[The Chair, Liberal, Mark Eyking]

Can you read the motion as amended?

[The Clerk]

It will have to be reworked, because it was done on the floor.

Pursuant to the motion of Tuesday, November 1, adopted by the Standing Committee on International Trade to study the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, the motion is “that the chair publish a news release on the committee's website, inviting Canadians to submit their views on the CETA in writing”—

No, just a second. “That the Chair publish a news release”— well, it's not even a news release. It's not necessary. It's that “people who requested to appear before the committee, before the beginning of the meeting today, be allowed to submit a written submission”—

[Gerry Ritz, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

Of no more than 10 pages—

[The Clerk]

—“of no more than 10 pages, before November 30 at 5 p.m.; and that the written submissions, once translated, be distributed to members of the committee.”

[Gerry Ritz, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

Add “and that these written submissions will in no way impede the clause-by-clause on December 6.” That was Peter's.

[The Chair, Liberal, Mark Eyking]

Go ahead, Madam Ramsey.

[Tracey Ramsey, NDP, Essex, ON]

I just have to say that it is extremely anti-democratic to say that we're going to cut off submissions on a date that's passed already. There's going to be no opportunity for anyone now to say they'd like to send a written submission to this committee. There's going to be no opportunity, no posting, for anyone to know that we would have accepted anything written to this committee. That's never been expressed to the Canadian people.

This smacks in the face the Liberal government with its vision of transparency and openness with Canadians. You're cutting off Canadians from having the ability to engage at the committee level, and I cannot support the gutting of the motion in this way.

[The Chair, Liberal, Mark Eyking]

We know the new motion, and we'll have a recorded vote on it right now.

(Motion as amended agreed to: yeas 8; nays 1)

Order.

Sorry for the delay, folks.

This is the process. On video conference, we have people from France, the United Kingdom, Montreal, and Toronto. Welcome, folks. I would do a bigger introduction, but our time is limited. I would also let the MPs know that Mr. Johnson can only be with us for another 45 minutes, or something like that.

[Pierre Marc Johnson, Chief Negotiator of the Government of Québec for the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and Counsel, Lavery, de Billy, As an Individual]

I have maybe 48 minutes, Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Mark Eyking]

Okay, so if MPs have questions pertaining to you, they should ask those questions in the first round.

Without further ado, we'll start off with Mr. Johnson. Go ahead.