International Trade Committee on July 21st, 2017

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

So we don't have confirmation yet of who our chief negotiator is?

[Andrew Leslie, Liberal, Orléans, ON]

I know who it is.

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

Okay.

[Andrew Leslie, Liberal, Orléans, ON]

You do as well. But—

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

It hasn't been made public yet?

[Andrew Leslie, Liberal, Orléans, ON]

Yes.

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

And it will be made public between now and the 14th?

[Andrew Leslie, Liberal, Orléans, ON]

Yes, absolutely.

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

Okay.

[The Chair, Liberal, Mark Eyking]

I know it's important, but we're getting into the weeds and I'd just like to deal with this motion first—

[Tracey Ramsey, NDP, Essex, ON]

Yes, that's okay.

[The Chair, Liberal, Mark Eyking]

—because it looks like we're working on something. We are a committee that works well together. We've worked well together on this file right from the get-go and this is an important meeting that will move us forward. I like where we're going here, so if we could get some consensus on this motion, then we could move forward on other motions.

Mr. Fonseca, are you willing to have something added to your motion?

[Tracey Ramsey, NDP, Essex, ON]

Mr. Chair, I still have a comment on this motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Mark Eyking]

Yes, okay. Sorry.

[Tracey Ramsey, NDP, Essex, ON]

I just want to ask if you can consult with the clerk. Can we amend this motion as is and then move forward with that amendment, because I think there are amendments being proposed? Is that something we can do? Can you consult with the clerk?

[The Chair, Liberal, Mark Eyking]

Sure. It's a work in progress.

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

Chair, I believe the motion as is provides the broad latitude to have the minister come in to inform this committee. It opens it up to the officials, as we just heard, in terms of who would be the negotiators, etc. I respect the judgment of the minister, that she would look to bring in those who would best inform this committee and provide us with all the information we're looking for.

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

So you're telling me you're not willing to entertain any amendments to your motion and that's the way this is? Has it come down from the PMO that this is it?

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

I think we're talking about a quite narrow window. We're looking at the minister coming in on August 14, and two days later they're starting the first round of negotiations in Washington, D.C. At this time I think it would be prudent for us to bring in the minister. The minister is open to coming in and informing us and addressing the committee, as well as with officials. I think it would be the right way to start to do this with the lead minister on the NAFTA file, as we know.

[The Chair, Liberal, Mark Eyking]

Parliamentary secretary, do you have a comment?

[Andrew Leslie, Liberal, Orléans, ON]

If I may, Mr. Chair, just as a reminder to all of us, the Minister of International Trade does not actually have specific responsibilities for NAFTA. That resides with the Minister of Global Affairs.

There may well be scheduling conflicts with other appropriate ministers. The lead minister is the Minister of Global Affairs who has been very much seized with this issue, and I'm sure the professional civil servants she'll bring with her will be able to adequately answer your questions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Mark Eyking]

Are there any more comments before we bring this to a vote?

Go ahead, Madam Ramsey.

[Tracey Ramsey, NDP, Essex, ON]

I would just like to say that I support the other ministers' coming as well. This trade agreement touches nearly every portfolio. To be honest, we could invite the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Science, Innovation and Economic Development. Every single portfolio is going to be impacted by this, and so the NDP supports expanding it to include the couple of ministers who are being proposed. We feel it's important that they come to talk about their priorities as well.

[The Chair, Liberal, Mark Eyking]

Thank you.

You can have the last comment because it's your motion.

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

The minister has the breadth of knowledge. At cabinet I'm sure that many of these issues have been discussed and the minister will be able to inform the committee, be it on something that touches agriculture through NAFTA, or finance through NAFTA. The minister will have that knowledge and the appropriate officials—and it's good that it's been brought up—to take that deep dive if that's what you're looking for.