International Trade Committee on Nov. 1st, 2017

[Zenon Potoczny]

Yes. I think that absolutely Ukraine is basically rebuilding everything, from transportation to infrastructure to buildings and everything. Obviously, Canada is a huge engineering and service and manufacturing power in the world, so in that area, absolutely, there's huge potential for Canadian businesses.

[Linda Lapointe, Liberal, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Mark Eyking]

Mr. Carrie, you have the floor for five minutes.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I want to thank our guests for being here because this is such an important conversation. I think it was Mr. Sacco who mentioned the NAFTA talks and how they're going. Right now, I think it's the most important trade agreement we have with any country. The importance of diversifying...I think Canadians were surprised a few years ago when the Prime Minister was asked which country he admires the most and he said he admires China's basic dictatorship. I see the government racing towards a free trade agreement with China.

However, then I look at India and I think of all the things that we have in common. You look at the British parliamentary system. We have the rule of law. We're both democracies and the opportunities that we should have.

Chrysler Fiat was mentioned, which is great, with that attachment to Canada, but also Tata Motors, as I think the chairman of Tata has deep roots here in Canada as well.

Mr. Dhanjal, you mentioned some of the opportunities that we're having now with human resources, industry, and agriculture. However, if Canada was able to accelerate...you mentioned the importance of trade agreements. What industrial sectors do you think have the greatest potential between Canada and India, if we can get a trade agreement that works for both countries?

[Kanwar Dhanjal]

The one sector that has been untouched between the two countries is the defence sector. India's budget.... Almost 15% to 17% of its budget goes towards the defence sector, and now India is accepting foreign debt investment into the defence sector, and [Inaudible—Editor]. I know a couple of companies in Brampton that are doing some trade with India in the defence sector, but it is very minimal. There is a lot of potential in the defence sector.

India is building 100 smart cities, and in Canada, all are smart cities, so Canada can contribute to their infrastructure and to the smart cities' [Inaudible—Editor].

Regarding the education sector, yes, it is important. Twenty-seven per cent of the population of India is young people. How does that compare with Canada? Every day, for another five years, thousands of Canadians will become senior citizens. You see the difference.

As you said very clearly, we are both democracies, with a U.K. background. We're Commonwealth countries. Tata, Bombardier's major affiliate in India, places orders with Bombardier. There are a lot of opportunities, a lot of things there for export that need to be going forward.

I personally feel that the education, infrastructure, and defence sectors need to be tapped.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Excellent.

[Kanwar Dhanjal]

Thank you, sir.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

We had Prime Minister Groysman here too, and I asked him this question. We didn't have a lot of time to expand on it, but maybe I could ask you the same question. Which industrial sectors do you see having the greatest potential between Canada and Ukraine?

There was a mention of agriculture, and I think he was meeting with some aerospace companies as well, and defence. What would you like to tell us here at this committee about these opportunities, moving forward, with Ukraine?

[Zenon Potoczny]

As I mentioned before, Ukraine is basically changing everything: transportation, infrastructure, renewable energy, and even in agro-industry, which is a huge and important sector for Ukraine. They do well in the world in agro, but they also need new technology, new equipment. Canada has huge potential, actually, in supplying that new technology, new know-how, new equipment in both the agro and the energy sector.

Even now, there's a big company in Winnipeg, AGI International, that supplies equipment all over the world. Unfortunately, Export Development Canada has, for some period of time, almost put a sign on their website saying that Ukraine is risky now because there's a war in the eastern part of the country, and so on.

It's also very important for Canada and the Canadian government, and we have mentioned it before to Minister Champagne, that somehow Export Development Canada has to get on side, because a lot of exports from Canada obviously can be supported through EDC. That's really EDC's main purpose, when you try to sell a lot of equipment and technology, so I would suggest that EDC should really co-operate more.

[The Chair, Liberal, Mark Eyking]

Thank you, sir, and thank you, Mr. Carrie.

We don't have time for a full slot, but I could take one quick question.

Mr. Dhaliwal, do you want to ask a quick question? Maybe we can get a quick answer and then wrap up.

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

Thank you.

Mr. Dhanjal, there is a will on this side to sign those agreements, FIPA and CEPA. Have you made a pitch to the Indian government to get those through?

What should the immigration policy be to improve trade as well?

[Kanwar Dhanjal]

About the immigration policy, I will take that question later on.

First, about the ICCC role in pursuing the signing of CEPA, we have a direct connection with the federal government in India and we are pursuing that directly, as well as with the High Commission of India in Ottawa, and the consul office of India in Toronto. We are putting together whatever resources we have, to push forward for CEPA and FIPA to be signed.

Regarding immigration policies—

[The Chair, Liberal, Mark Eyking]

Sir, I know when you get into immigration, it could be a long answer, so please see if you can give a quick answer. I'd appreciate it.

[Kanwar Dhanjal]

Okay.

With respect to the present Canadian government, I, personally, from a chamber perspective, agree with the immigration policies of the government. The government is looking for people with a skill set to come to Canada, which is a good thing. The government is promoting education, and these people who are coming to Canada are adding revenue to the Canadian government. Plus they are adapting to the Canadian culture socially, practically, as well as environmentally. After doing two years of studies and working for two years with a work permit, they get a practical feel about Canada. They cannot say after four years, “No, no, I did post-graduate there and I'm not getting a job. I'm driving a cab.” No, no, no. You're studying here; you're getting accomplished with the system, and then you're adopting that system, merging with the system—and I support this immigration policy.

Thank you, sir.

[The Chair, Liberal, Mark Eyking]

Thank you, sir.

Thank you gentlemen for taking the time—you guys have busy schedules—to come and present before our committee today. It was a very good conversation. We wish we had more time. We will be doing a report on this, and you'll be able to have a copy of it.

Thank you again very much and good luck.

We're going to suspend just for a minute and then go in camera.

[Proceedings continue in camera]