Evidence of meeting #52 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 human.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Mr. RĂ©mi Bourgault
Kirsten Hillman  Assistant Deputy Minister, Trade Agreements and Negotiations, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development

January 31st, 2017 / 4 p.m.

NDP

Tracey Ramsey NDP Essex, ON

I'd just like to say that I think this amendment is really in that spirit of partnership, and it's meant to strengthen our relationship. I think when we have relationships with other countries, there are sometimes difficult things that have to be addressed, and this is certainly one of them. We have worked very hard with Ukraine to establish the relationship with the west and have a strong friendship with them. I think that's not in question.

I also believe strongly that with the excellent diplomatic and negotiating skills of our Canadian team here, they would be able to broach the subject respectfully, in a manner that would not be in any way offensive to Ukraine.

I also want to say that in trade agreements going forward, we have to have an eye toward human rights. We have to entrench them in the agreements, and not just in side agreements anymore. For the countries that we're looking at trading with, it's incredibly important that we keep the standards we have in our own country and potentially elevate other countries to those standards. That's the goal. That's what we're reaching for, off in the distance, I think, trying to elevate countries to these standards. We have examples where that hasn't happened. With NAFTA, Mexico has not been able to raise its standards.

I think we set an example to the world, and we can do so in a respectful way with all partners.

4 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Mark Eyking

Thank you, Ms. Ramsey. You've brought good conversation on this topic.

I think we'll bring NDP-1 to a vote now. Everybody understands the amendment.

(Amendment negatived)

(Clause 15 agreed to)

I will group the rest.

(Clauses 16 to 44 inclusive agreed to)

(Schedules 1 to 3 inclusive agreed to)

Shall the short title carry?

4 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

4 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Mark Eyking

Shall the title carry?

4 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

4 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Mark Eyking

Shall the bill as is carry?

4 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

4 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Mark Eyking

Shall the chair report the bill to the House?

4 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

4 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Mark Eyking

That's it. It's ready to go to the House. My understanding from the legislative clerk is that we can have this ready in the next couple of days, or tomorrow, so I'll try to get this to the House.

They're pretty impressed with our committee and how we're getting these agreements.

As you know, committee members, after this we had intended to go into some future business. Do you want to go in camera with that?

4 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

4 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Mark Eyking

We will suspend and go in camera.

[Proceedings continue in camera]