International Trade Committee on Nov. 3rd, 2020

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

Minister Ng, these commitments to the environment and to farmers have been reiterated time and time again. However, the last few times, we've seen that this hasn't produced conclusive results and that the commitments haven't been fulfilled. Based on your response, I gather that there's currently no moratorium and that negotiations are taking place.

I want to know whether the discussions on the free trade agreement with the Mercosur countries are still ongoing.

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

To the honourable member, we've had no rounds of discussions since 2019. Certainly, in this most recent period, our focus has largely been on helping our businesses through COVID-19. For those businesses that are operating abroad, making sure that they get the support that is needed—

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

I wasn't talking about formal rounds of negotiations. I was talking about discussions. We received confirmation of this last Friday in this committee.

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

I want to assure the member that the values that underscore our approach to trade, and I think we have a strong record of this, values like protecting the environment and protecting indigenous rights, are first and foremost. We will absolutely continue to talk to our partners, but anything we do will always be in the interests of Canadian businesses and Canadians.

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

Minister Ng, in a recent press release referring to the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, or CETA, you emphasized the need to ensure that all businesses and workers benefit from the agreement.

However, the trade deficit between Canada and the European Union, far from decreasing, has actually increased since CETA came into effect. Why has this happened?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

To the honourable member, CETA absolutely marked a new chapter in the relationship between the EU and Canada, and it is delivering unparalleled opportunities for Canadians and our businesses.

I've had the opportunity to work with former EU trade commissioner Hogan and just the other day I was speaking to Trade Commissioner Dombrovskis. All of us are absolutely focused on ensuring that we are able to create greater opportunities for our businesses to capitalize on that important agreement and on those opportunities in the European countries.

It's been terrific to talk to several colleagues from the European Union countries, and as CETA takes place, we will need to keep doing the work to help our businesses become even more export-ready, to understand the opportunities and the market access they have, and to help them get the benefits of that access. That's particularly important now as we head towards economic recovery so that we can create that kind of prosperity for Canadian businesses, anchored in the creation of Canadian jobs.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Thank you very much, Minister.

We go now to Mr. Blaikie for six minutes.

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

Thank you very much.

Hello, Madam Minister.

You will recall that in February the government committed to making changes to policy in tabling treaties in Parliament. I'm wondering if you could advise the committee as to when the government intends to implement those changes to the policy.

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Yes, absolutely. Thank you so much for asking that question.

I want to assure the member that our government is absolutely committed to those amendments to the policy. Of course, the formal implementation was delayed by the pandemic, but we're working to formalize these changes. I want to assure you that we will absolutely adhere to the commitments we made to fulfill the obligations.

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

Do you have a timeline for that? Is that something that will be done, say, by the end of the year?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

We're working as quickly as we can on this, and we are hoping we will be able to get it done by the end of this year, yes.

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

Okay. I'm going to take that as a commitment unless you say otherwise.

I understand that Canada has been talking with the United Kingdom about a potential trade deal. Of course, the important deadline there is December 31 as the U.K. leaves the European Union. Under the terms of that policy change, it's foreseen that Parliament would get notice of those talks.

I understand it's the government's position that what they're negotiating currently is not a comprehensive trade agreement but a transitional trade agreement. I'm wondering if you could provide us with a definition of a transitional trade agreement and the definition of a comprehensive trade agreement. I don't expect you to do that right now, off the cuff, but if you could table those with the committee in advance of our beginning the Canada-U.K. study, which will be beginning shortly, that would be very helpful, if that's something your department can do.

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Thank you so very much for that. I'm happy to have the department provide you with that information. Also, the officials who are here may be able to answer more of that a little later in their portion, but we can provide that information.

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

I appreciate that. It will be useful to our study and the situation in Canada of a potential agreement between Canada and the U.K.

On the question of negotiating with Mercosur, I just want to echo some of my colleagues' comments expressing concern about negotiating a trade agreement in light of what Brazil is doing to the rainforest. I take your answer. I know we heard something similar from one of your officials on Friday, about how the government believes that an environmental agenda can go hand in hand with a trade agenda.

However, I'm wondering if there is anything Bolsonaro could do to the rainforest that would cause the Canadian government to feel it's inappropriate to be negotiating a trade deal with Brazil at this time.

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

I think our record speaks for itself. We have negotiated the CPTPP. We have negotiated a high-standards agreement in CETA. We have also done that in the recent negotiations with the new NAFTA, in CUSMA.

I think there's a record there to follow, where standards around labour, environmental protection and respect for indigenous rights.... These are all values that underpin the manner in which we undertake trade discussions, and this will be no different.

As I said to our colleague earlier, I can assure you that we are going to continue to consult and be sure that whatever we do will always be in the interests of Canadians.

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

I think what I'm hearing there, though, is that there's no threshold for this government in terms of environmental or human rights abuse, for instance, that would cause the government to say that it doesn't want to support governments engaged in this kind of behaviour.

Trade negotiation is always a possibility, regardless of a country's environmental or human rights track record. There's no point at which Canada would say, at least under the current leadership, that it's not going to lend any kind of credibility to the actions of this government by saying that Canada considers them a perfectly legitimate potential trading partner.

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

I would disagree with you. I think the values I just talked about and how we are respectful of those values that we are accountable to Canadians for—

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

So Bolsonaro's treatment of the rainforest—

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Don't I have the same length of time to answer?

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

I'm sorry, Mr. Blaikie. Your time is up.

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

I'm just seeking a clarification.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Ms. Ng, maybe you could give a short answer, please.

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

I think our clarity around the values we hold, particularly around the environment and around human rights, is something that is in the interest of Canadians. We have demonstrated that we are able to ensure those high standards. We're going to keep doing this, and everything we do will be in the interest of Canadians.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Thank you very much.

We're going to Mr. Aboultaif for five minutes.

[Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative, Edmonton Manning, AB]

Good afternoon, Minister, and thank you for appearing today in front of the committee.

My first question for you is on the Invest in Canada program. What is your budget for 2020-21?