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.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Ms. Christine Lafrance
David Chartrand  Quebec Coordinator, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
Mark Agnew  Vice-President, Policy and International, Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Brad Chandler  Chief Executive Officer and President, Hensall District Co-Operative Inc.
Angella MacEwen  Co-Chair, Trade Justice Network

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

Mary Ng Liberal Markham—Thornhill, ON

It's the same. Is everyone else having the same issue I am?

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

Is anyone else having problems with the translation?

11:50 a.m.

Conservative

Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK

Yes, it's doing the same thing. We're getting French and translation at the same time.

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

Mary Ng Liberal Markham—Thornhill, ON

I just want to be able to hear Mr. Savard-Tremblay's question properly.

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

Prior to now it had been working efficiently. Let's give this a start again.

Mr. Savard-Tremblay, would you like to start again, please?

11:50 a.m.

Bloc

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

I first want to make sure that it's working, so that I don't have to start again.

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

Minister?

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

Mary Ng Liberal Markham—Thornhill, ON

No, it's the same.

February 22nd, 2021 / 11:50 a.m.

The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Christine Lafrance

May I suggest going to Mr. Hoback, and we'll try in the background here to see what's going on?

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

Next on my list I have two and a half minutes for Mr. Blaikie, and then I have Mr. Hoback, if we're able to get that in. I'm going to go to Mr. Blaikie for his two and a half minutes.

Go ahead, Mr. Blaikie.

11:50 a.m.

NDP

Daniel Blaikie NDP Elmwood—Transcona, MB

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Before I begin that time, just on a quick point of order, I think it would be problematic if our time with the minister expired and Mr. Savard-Tremblay wasn't able to get his two and a half minutes based on the fact that he's speaking French. We are at risk of that happening, and if we just continue as normal, then I think we're risking a scenario where we're prejudicing a member's ability to participate based on the language that he's speaking.

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

It's certainly my intention to go back to Mr. Savard-Tremblay. I'm hoping they're going to have it corrected between you and Mr. Hoback.

Madam Clerk.

11:50 a.m.

The Clerk

We are looking into the problem.

If Mr. Blaikie could pose his questions, then we'll come back to Mr. Savard-Tremblay.

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

Mr. Blaikie, go ahead.

11:50 a.m.

NDP

Daniel Blaikie NDP Elmwood—Transcona, MB

Is Mr. Savard-Tremblay fine with me continuing?

I wouldn't want the meeting to end without Mr. Savard-Tremblay having been able to speak, simply because no solution could be found for the technical issues related to the interpretation when he speaks in French. As a francophone, he has the right to speak in French.

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

Mr. Savard-Tremblay.

11:50 a.m.

Bloc

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

I trust your good faith. Certain technical issues related to interpretation must be resolved. If you can guarantee that I'll be able to speak afterwards, I have no issue with Mr. Blaikie going ahead of me.

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

My intention is to absolutely ensure that you get your time, Mr. Savard-Tremblay.

Interpretation is working on that now.

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

If we have to go over a bit of the time, I'd ask the minister to stay an extra five or 10 minutes, if necessary, to ensure that members get their questions answered.

Mr. Blaikie.

11:50 a.m.

NDP

Daniel Blaikie NDP Elmwood—Transcona, MB

Thank you for that, Madam Chair.

As I said, I didn't want to create facts on the ground that weren't consistent.

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

I appreciate that.

11:50 a.m.

NDP

Daniel Blaikie NDP Elmwood—Transcona, MB

My question is to you, Madam Minister. On February 5, Mr. Forsythe said:

Canada has agreed to a temporary outcome that will provide continuity to the U.K.'s access under Canada's WTO cheese tariff rate quota until December 31, 2023

We've heard in other testimony that this is one of the leverage points, if you will, for the U.K. to come back to the table for a more permanent agreement, because its cheese access to the Canadian market is only under WTO rules until 2020.

11:55 a.m.

The Clerk

I'm sorry, Madam Chair, there's no interpretation.

11:55 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

Hold on. We have no interpretation at the moment.

11:55 a.m.

The Clerk

Mr. Blaikie, you can proceed. It seems like the problem has been solved.