If you look—
Evidence of meeting #16 for International Trade in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was ceta.
A video is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #16 for International Trade in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was ceta.
A video is available from Parliament.
1:05 p.m.
Quebec Coordinator, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
If you look—
1:05 p.m.
Liberal
1:05 p.m.
Quebec Coordinator, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
I'll try to make it as quick as possible.
The fact that we don't have an aerospace policy here, a national policy, and that it's not structured—and we're on an ad hoc basis when there's an emergency and there's money thrown at a certain company because there's a problem with that company or something like that—is hurting our industry incredibly. The fact that it's been 12 months since this pandemic has started, and in air transport and aerospace, we've yet to see any kind of direct support to the industry, is one of the factors, on top of many others, that makes it difficult for us as a trading partner with other countries that are supported and their industry is supported. They have structured plans. They've already started helping their industry. Their industry is already preparing to recover after the pandemic, and we've yet to do so.
You cannot not have support for that industry, not have a plan in place, not have something structured, and then expect when the pandemic ends to be able to compete with these other countries that are going to be inside a trade deal like that. That's number one.
Number two, the other thing is that by not having support for the industry like this, we don't have any way of investing money in companies like they do in other countries, as in Europe, where governments invest through military. We don't have structured program here for that. We don't do as much military as they do, so it's making it less interesting for big order givers, OEMs, to come and establish themselves over here. They're worried that they won't have the government support that's needed like they would have in the other countries, which then impacts all of the supply chain—all the SMEs and all that.
That's as quickly as I could go, Ms. Sgro.
1:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Thank you very much, Mr. Chartrand.
To all our witnesses, we wish we had more time with you, but thank you so much for your valuable information today.
The witnesses can leave.
To the committee, we will need any amendments you wish to submit to the clerk by Wednesday, February 24, in their final format, in both official languages. The committee will hear witnesses on Friday, and start clause-by-clause consideration as well on Friday.
Thank you all very much for your patience today. We were trying to get a lot in, in a short period of time.
I will move adjournment of the committee today. Thank you.