International Trade Committee on Feb. 5th, 2020

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

We could discharge them if they would like.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

I'll maybe make a suggestion that you read into the record what you want, which will be the end of your five-minute area; and we'll go to Mr. Arya for his five minutes to complete the clock.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

All right.

It is in both official languages. I'd like to move the motion:

That (a): the Chair of the Committee write, as promptly as possible, to the Chairs of the following standing committees to invite them to study the provisions of Bill C-4, An Act to Implement the Agreement between Canada the United States of America and the United Mexican States and the impacts within their respective mandates:

(i) the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food;

(ii) the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology;

(iii) the Standing Committee on Natural Resources;

(iv) the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities;

(v) Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development;

(vi) the Standing Committee on Finance.

(b) for the standing committees listed in (a),

(i) recommendations, including any suggested amendments, be submitted in both official languages, in relation to the provisions considered by them, in a letter to the Chair of the Standing Committee on International Trade, in both official languages, no later than 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 2, 2020;

(ii) any amendments suggested pursuant to paragraph (b)(i) shall be deemed to be proposed during the clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-4, and further provided that the members of the Standing Committee on International Trade may propose amendments notwithstanding the recommendations received pursuant to paragraph (b)(i);

(iii) if a standing committee listed in (a) chooses not to consider the subject matter of the provisions, it advise the Chair of the Standing Committee on International Trade by letter, in both official languages, no later than 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 27, 2020.

In the spirit of getting this decided as soon as possible to provide certainty for the study, if we could vote on this today I think that would be great.

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Madam Chair, first, I would note that we've just received this, and in the spirit of collaboration and congeniality that I think we started with on this side, we would like an opportunity to review it.

Second, I thought I heard my colleague mention “the Standing Committee on Finance” as the number (vi), but that doesn't appear in the copy I have before me.

Perhaps we could circulate a copy with the full motion as proposed by you. And perhaps we could also wait for our other colleague, Mr. Hoback, to join us from the trip that he is currently on with the minister in Africa, so that we can have the full committee look at this and vote on it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Thank you.

In the the original copy, Mr. Carrie did not have “Finance” on it.

The one that he's given to the clerk now does; hence, that's maybe the confusion between the two.

I have Mr. Blaikie and then Mr. Dhaliwal.

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I find the motion interesting. We're certainly concerned on this side about having a fulsome study of the agreement, but I haven't really had time to consider the motion.

Madam Chair, if it's in order, I would move that we defer consideration of the motion to our next meeting, during the second hour, immediately upon the conclusion of the minister's appearance.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

I have Mr. Dhaliwal next.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. I totally agree with Mr. Blaikie.

Madam Chair, in a previous parliament, Mr. Carrie was on the international trade committee and Mr. Sheehan was as well. This committee worked very well among the NDP, Conservatives and the Liberals. We came up with a consensus on almost everything. We were a very productive committee when it came to doing things, whether here in Canada or when we were travelling abroad.

It's a great idea that we should park this, take some time to go over it, and then vote on it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Mr. Savard-Tremblay.

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

The issue isn't that the Standing Committee on Finance doesn't appear, but that we aren't talking about the same committee in English and French.

The English version of paragraph (b)(iii) states as follows:

“Chair of the Standing Committee on International Trade”.

However, the French version states as follows: “...it advise the Chair of the Standing Committee on Finance...”

I just want to know which committee we're talking about and to ask that the same thing be stated in both languages.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Exactly. Clearly, that adds to the confusion and the difficulty.

There has been a suggestion that we hold off on it at this time until everyone has had an opportunity....

I have to go to Mr. Fast and then to Mr. Blaikie.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Well, the suggestion has been made, Madam Chair, that we defer this to the next meeting when Mr. Hoback is back. I won't be here. He'll be back in his chair.

I think that's a reasonable request to make, as we want to make sure that this is a collaborative committee.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Absolutely.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

It's an important study that we're doing, and I think that if we could all get onside with this, it would be helpful.

I'm open to that. I'm sure my colleagues are as well.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Thank you.

Mr. Blaikie.

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Thank you.

I have a question of clarification.

I had attempted to move a deferral with a particular condition. I'm just wondering if we're discussing that and if we'll vote on that motion.

If the motion is in order, I would prefer to have a vote on it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Mr. Dhaliwal.

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

Mr. Blaikie, it seems that we have consensus on that side and this side, so I don't think there's any need to vote on this motion. We should carry on with the witnesses and—

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

If everyone is in agreement, then we will defer the motion by Mr. Carrie until our next meeting.

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Defer it to our next meeting, after the minister.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

After the minister?

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

That's what I had moved. I'm just trying to be clear on what we're agreeing to.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

After the minister. You're saying in the second hour.

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Okay, everybody is in agreement. Terrific.

Can I go back to you, Steve, as maybe you have some last comments you would like to make in the two minutes that we have left.