International Trade Committee on April 11th, 2017

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

Again, you must be of counsel.

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Yes, I appreciate that, but it would be premature for us to comment on their position. As you know, this is not an official position. This was a draft. You've seen it and I've seen it.

We're very much prepared, but on the basis of a draft circulated in the media, it's wise for us to look at that but keep our position under consideration for the time being.

When they put something official on the record, we will be prepared to respond.

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

Well, forewarned is forearmed.

I want to go back to CETA. You talk about it being the gold standard, and I couldn't agree more. It was great to be part of that from day one. It's not a 10-year-old agreement. Negotiations started almost 10 years ago, but the agreement was signed in principle in the fall of 2014. So it's as current as you're going to get.

I do agree with you that it's a gold standard deal, as is the Ukrainian deal, as you also pointed out. However, TPP followed on that as well, and I wonder why the reticence. The other countries in the world that I talked to and continue to deal with, the ambassadors, trade ministers, and agriculture ministers, are looking for some leadership from Canada. When you go to Vietnam, if you're speaking first, I hope you're actually saying, “Let's form a parade; we're ready to lead it.”

Japan is looking to link arms with somebody; they've already ratified it. Australia and New Zealand are well along those lines as well. Vietnam and Malaysia, of course, are countries that need our help to draw them this way as opposed to being taken into the RCEP with China and Russia, and so on. So I'm hopeful that you're going to be that stern when you get there and say, “Let's get this done sooner rather than later.” The outline is there. There's not a lot of work required to make the changes, to make a TPP 2.0.

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

I appreciate the question. We are very much leading. As you said, with the colleagues we have had, Canada was very much front and centre. Not only was Canada asked to lead first, but we were asked to lead even when China and the U.S. came into the room. They asked whether Canada could start again to lay the ground.

So Canada was first—

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

Well, at this point, neither one of them is part of TPP.

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

No, I know, but they were invited in that later discussion. It's just to give you an example. You asked whether Canada was leading.

You have Minister Muñoz who said, “You started first. Can you start again first?” That's going to lay the ground and then hopefully we'll have a constructive discussion.

With New Zealand, Australia, and Chile, we had a number of discussions before getting there. We cannot be more front and centre in pushing the agenda, and also working very closely with Japan to make sure that we are.

To your point, we want to be front and centre. We are front and centre, but we thought, in Chile—

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

You want that to be in a positive way.

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Yes, in a very positive way. It was the smart thing to do when we were in Chile. For some nations, to recommit to open and free trade without the U.S. in that part of the world was already a step in Chile. It would probably have been too much to ask that some delegations start looking at options without having had...advisement.

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

For some of them, with the U.S. [Inaudible—Editor] easier. There's a huge anti-U.S. sentiment.

[The Chair, Liberal, Mark Eyking]

I'm sorry, we're going to have to—

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

It was just difficult, as you can appreciate, for some nations to commit without having had the chance to consult with their own officials. That's what we said in the process. There were a number of nations that wanted to take that under advisement.

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

Thank you. We'll have you back.

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

I'm happy to come back.

[The Chair, Liberal, Mark Eyking]

Thank you. That ends our rounds.

I have a question for you, Minister.

Our committee is very successful because we plan quite far ahead all the time. In May we're going to be dealing with probably 24 stakeholders dealing with the United States. We're going to wrap up in June in the United States, in Washington, on a trip. Probably, when we come back at the end of September for a week, we're going to finish our report on Canada and U.S. Looking ahead, we have October and November, and we're going to start planning that today.

What do you think our committee should be looking at in October and November, leading up to December?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Let's put it the other way around, where would I welcome input from the committee and the important work you're doing. I see CETA as a game-changer for our nation. I think there is enormous potential, particularly for SMEs. If this committee were to consult Canadians broadly on how we can make it real for SMEs to take full advantage.... Mr. Ritz would know this. These agreements are good, but they're only good if people take advantage of the provisions in the agreements.

We have a rollout process in place. As the Prime Minister said, better is always possible. If the committee were to engage with Canadians to hear how we can make this agreement real for them, certainly we would welcome that and listen, obviously.

The other thing that comes to mind, Chair, would be Asia-Pacific. As we move to the following months, clearly, we will be engaging. I think a number of members mentioned China. As you know, we have started a public consultation on China. I would certainly welcome it if this committee could spend some of its time listening to Canadians on China—their concerns, their hopes, their challenges, what they see in that agreement, what they would like this government to do on their behalf. I would certainly welcome the input. We're going to do part of the work on our own, but I think this committee has enormous...not only in consulting, but there are people on this committee who have enormous experience in the field that I think would be beneficial for us and our officials to listen to.

I'd certainly be willing to listen to you. If you ask me what's on the top of my list, it would be CETA, making it real for people so that we make sure Canadians benefit from what they have in front of them in the coming weeks. Then looking forward, hearing what I've heard today, and some concerns, I would say let's listen to Canadians. If you can assist me in that process so that we have the best possible agreement, if we have an agreement.... In our consideration of our feasibility study, certainly I would welcome the input from the committee as part of the feasibility phase.

[The Chair, Liberal, Mark Eyking]

Thank you very much, sir.

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

Minister, I just want you to know that your consulates in Seattle, San Francisco, and Denver did a tremendous job helping us last week.

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

I appreciate that.

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

The people there were professional, first-class. I think it's important you understand that.

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

I appreciate that.

Thank you, because I got feedback also from your tour. Whenever we can be helpful.... Even when we cross this building, this is Team Canada in action. You're very much part of the team that can help Canadians. It's every region, every riding.

Chair, I will be happy to report back, perhaps when I come back from Vietnam, to let you know. I very much welcome your input. Thank you again for your work.

[The Chair, Liberal, Mark Eyking]

Mr. Hoback was so right. Our committee is going to send some appreciation notes, but it wouldn't be bad if you or your deputy minister could send that on. It was really very active.

Minister, thank you for your extra time and your advice and for taking the questions. Thank you for opening up to meeting us again. We'll be looking forward to that. Your parliamentary secretary keeps us well tuned to what's going on between both of us. Thank you.

We're going to suspend and go in camera.

[Proceedings continue in camera]