International Trade Committee on Feb. 5th, 2021

[Doug Forsyth]

Sure. Thank you for the question. I will do my best with it.

There is a formal process, and I think it starts with the application, the formal indication. A number of countries have indicated informally that, yes, they want to join or they might want to join or they're exploring, which is great. Once the country formally applies, then a working party of all of the CPTPP members that have signed the agreement is formed. At this time that does not include Chile, Peru and Malaysia. They're not part of the working party.

The terms and conditions for how things will proceed are laid out in the agreement. Once the application has been submitted, they are.... I think I'll have to get back to you with the exact steps. There is a process. I just don't have it at my fingertips or know it off the top of my head. We can get back to you with that process.

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Thank you. I would appreciate that.

Madam Chair, do I have time for one more question?

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

You do. Please continue.

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Thank you.

I have a question on behalf of businesses in my riding, Outremont, in Montreal.

Mr. Forsyth, many of them are technology start-ups. As far as expanding our exports to the U.K. goes, do you see any opportunities for tech start-ups and the like further to the TCA or the subsequent negotiations?

[Doug Forsyth]

I sincerely hope so. I sincerely hope that small businesses like that would want to take advantage of the Canada-U.K. trade agreement and the bilateral agreement that will follow. We need to hear from them. We need to hear about some of the challenges they face and the opportunities they see out there.

I think we'll certainly be reaching out to companies and to people through the consultative process. If you are aware of any businesses, please let us know so that we can flag them, put them on our list and reach out to them.

The growth of small and medium-sized enterprises is key to ensuring that our export diversification continues to happen and our exports continue to grow. The start-ups in not only your riding but elsewhere around the country are an important part of that, so I am looking forward to hearing from them.

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Thank you.

Indeed, if any Canadians watching us today want to participate in the consultations ahead of the negotiations for a subsequent agreement with the U.K., what should they do?

[Doug Forsyth]

I'm happy to clarify that.

There will be a website, and an official launch process through Canada Gazette, but there will be a web link, etc., that will come out following that, which provides an address for folks. At the end of the day, if anybody wanted to call me, they could call me and I'd be happy to talk to them about that as well—that is, assuming I am named the chief negotiator.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Thanks very much, all of you.

It being 2:58 p.m., I want to thank all of the witnesses for their very valuable information. We no doubt will be in touch in the next while, as we have additional witnesses coming before the committee. Thanks, all of you, and thank you to committee members.

I will work with the clerk to send out a proposed working schedule for how we might want to deal with Bill C-18 over the next several weeks. Please respond to it. If you're okay with it, please let us know. If you feel that you would like to have additional meetings, please communicate that to us. If that's all right with everyone, the clerk will be sending that out shortly, and I would appreciate your comments back to us.

Thank you again to all the committee members and to our translators and our clerks. Take a few days' rest now and come back better, stronger and ready for the continued work that we do on behalf of all Canadians. Thanks very much, all of you.

I move adjournment.