Evidence of meeting #29 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 technology.
A recording is available from Parliament.
2:40 p.m.
Liberal
Chandra Arya Liberal Nepean, ON
The U.S. defense department has identified about 13 of the 35 minerals as critical, as a national security issue. Quite a number of them fall into the battery manufacturing minerals, too.
Do you think the investment we have made in Natural Resources Canada to advance critical battery minerals processing and refining expertise is too late? Do we have the expertise to develop this centre further?
2:40 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, First Cobalt Corp.
I don't know if we're too late. COVID-19 has hurt us a bit. NRCan used to lead trade missions into Asia. I did one or two of those and it was helpful to get in front of some of the bigger players, such as Samsung, SKI, and the like. That obviously had to fall away. I will give credit to our civil service for trying to help.
I don't know. I've sort of focused on my own plans. It was really about capital formation and permitting. The measures taken have been helpful, but in terms of the deployment of capital that is going to be required, if you want to talk about building back bigger or greener, whether in Europe or the U.S., I think Canada probably needs to do more than maybe we are comfortable doing, just in order to compete.
2:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Thank you very much.
Sorry, Mr. Arya; I'm trying to get everybody in here.
Monsieur Savard-Tremblay, you have two minutes.
2:40 p.m.
Bloc
Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I assume these are the last two minutes before the 15-minute period we had set aside to consider the motion, which will begin at 2:45 p.m.
2:40 p.m.
Bloc
Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
I would like to come back to Mr. Galbraith and Mr. Wayland.
Mr. Wayland, you have given seminars on decarbonization through electrification as a way to create jobs.
Is the focus on transition? Will some energy have to be converted?
In other words, will some industries inevitably need to be left behind, bit by bit, to accommodate the jobs and new activities in the electrical sector?
2:40 p.m.
Executive Assistant to the International Vice-President and Canadian Director of Government Relations, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Certainly.
As technology changes and as energy sources change.... I'm going to use coal as an example. In Alberta, they replaced the coal generation with natural gas. It was quickly done. That was a displacement of workers. So it's about keeping up with, as those technologies change, those sources of energy change, making sure that workers have an opportunity to have that transition and they're not left behind.
As we look at emerging sources of different types of electricity, whether it's wind and solar, more efficient things like hydrogen or nuclear technology, we need to make sure that we're able to engage, have the workforce available, and that they're trained and ready to go to meet the needs of the clients, consumers and the suppliers of these products.
2:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Thank you very much, Mr. Wayland.
Mr. Blaikie, as our last speaker, you have two minutes.
2:45 p.m.
NDP
Daniel Blaikie NDP Elmwood—Transcona, MB
Thank you very much.
Mr. Mell, when we talk about planning for an industry, one thing we often hear is that the many trade agreements to which Canada is a party prevent certain kinds of government action and coordinating in industry, or investing in Canadian companies, for instance.
I'm wondering if you have a sense of how the current trade picture for Canada could affect our ability to implement that kind of planning within an industry, and if you have any recommendations for how we might best ensure that those don't become barriers to moving forward in a very important industry.
2:45 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, First Cobalt Corp.
I think maybe having an eye to raw material inputs and how those get taxed through processing in Canada is something that I'm attuned to, because that's really going to go to our direct competitiveness.
I can never compete with my Chinese counterparts, or competitors, I suppose, on the cost of capital. It is just never going to happen, so I need every advantage I can get. We have ESG, but the tax regime on inputs...and facing out, I guess, is important as well. The markets we're going to, so far, look pretty good to us, but I am mindful of the former point.
2:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much to all of our witnesses. That was very valuable testimony for this particular study that we're doing.
We have to do some committee business now, so the witnesses can excuse themselves.
I will suspend for 30 seconds while the witnesses leave the meeting.
2:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
For the information of the committee, the clerk has circulated a proposal to carry us until June 7, to complete the carbon-tech study, complete our studies on ISED and GAC, and COVID-19, and so on.
Mr. Savard-Tremblay had an issue with it, as Bill C-216 was scheduled to be dealt with on June 7. He has introduced a motion that we are going to deal with now.
Mr. Savard-Tremblay, would you like to speak to the issue of Bill C-216?
2:45 p.m.
Bloc
Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
While bills are usually passed quickly, the fact remains that our study, exciting and interesting as it is, is not a priority.
The parliamentary session will end soon, and I feel we should put considering the bill, which is very short and shouldn't take very long to consider—
2:45 p.m.
Liberal
Randeep Sarai Liberal Surrey Centre, BC
I've been informed that we're still in public, I think. I don't know if Madam Clerk can check, but we still being aired publicly?
2:45 p.m.
Bloc
Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
Because the parliamentary session is almost over, I believe it would be useful and important to consider the bill as soon as possible. It makes sense that a bill should come before a non-urgent study.
Although that non-urgent study is fascinating, much like the one we are conducting right now, the bill is very simple and very short and we will not have to dedicate many meetings to it. One or two meetings should suffice.
Therefore, I move that we consider the bill as soon as possible. Would you like me to read the motion?
I believe it was sent to you, anyway.
2:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Yes, please read it.
That the committee immediately undertake consideration of Bill C-216, An Act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act (supply management), referred to the committee by an order of reference on March 10, 2021, for disposition on a priority basis, and defer the study initiated by the Committee on Canadian exportation of green, clean and low-carbon technologies.
2:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Thank you very much.
I see Mr. Arya and Mr. Sheehan have their hands up.
Mr. Arya, please go ahead.
2:50 p.m.
Liberal
Chandra Arya Liberal Nepean, ON
Madam Chair, while I understand the importance of what my colleague, Mr. Savard-Tremblay, states about Bill C-216, for me, it is very important that we continue with this study. We have already heard from the witnesses. Given the enormity of this particular study and its importance for Canada and the Canadian economy now, we should be going forward.
I think we should continue with this tempo. We should continue this study and hear from more witnesses, gather more information, and conclude this.
Thank you, Madam Chair.