International Trade Committee on Nov. 30th, 2020

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

Plan B looks like mitigating measures that will ensure minimal disruption for Canadian businesses. That work is under way.

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

Okay, so we have minimal disruption to Canadian businesses. Let's key in on that: minimal disruption to Canadian businesses.

Who are they? Have they been identified? Have they been approached and told there's going to be a problem here for a short period of time until Parliament gets this done? Do you even know who those people are?

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

Absolutely. I mean, my team and I—

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

Have you reached out to them?

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Mr. Hoback, please let the minister finish answering the question.

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

The answer is yes, I am in constant communication with businesses, as they are with me. It is really important, and I have heard loudly from them how important it is to have and how good it is that this agreement is here so they can continue to have access to the U.K. on those CETA terms. That work continues.

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

Okay. Again you—

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Keep it short, Mr. Hoback.

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

You said “minimal disruption”. Which sectors are going to be minimally disrupted, and what are you going to do to compensate them? Have you notified them that there's going to be a period of time when there's going to be disruption in dealing with the U.K.?

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Thank you, Mr. Hoback. I'm sorry, but your time is up. I stretched it over a little bit.

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

Thank you, Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Madam Minister, can you attempt to give Mr. Hoback a brief answer on that super question?

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

It's an excellent question, and we are absolutely working with the U.K. as we speak, and we'll continue to do so.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

The last speaker will be Ms. Bendayan for five minutes, as we have to do a bit of committee business thereafter.

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair, and if committee business requires it, you can cut me off slightly before. I do want to ask a question of the minister, however.

We heard from Madame Claire Citeau, who was speaking on behalf of agricultural producers. She mentioned—and we could go back to the record—that the problem is not or has not been with the text of CETA itself, but with the way that the EU countries have, since its ratification, interpreted it. As all of us on this committee know, there are significant non-tariff barriers and other technical barriers to trade arising from the way that EU U. countries have chosen to interpret the text of this multilateral trade agreement.

From several conversations with Ms. Citeau and other representatives of the industry, I understand that these technical barriers to trade are the subject of ongoing negotiations and discussion with you, Madam Minister, and your team.

Could you comment a little bit on that, because I think there's some confusion in the way opposition members are characterizing the problems with CETA being transposed to this continuity agreement? In fact, there's no problem with the text itself. The problem is with the way member states are erroneously interpreting it, and, of course, the way that the WTO is currently in a stalemate.

Madam Minister, I'll go over to you on that point.

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

Thank you very much for that opportunity to provide a bit of clarification. You're absolutely right: we are talking about two different agreements now.

With respect to CETA, while it did mark a new chapter in the relationship between the EU and Canada and, therefore, in the opportunities it provides for Canadian businesses, we are also actively working to resolve those challenges, such as non-tariff barriers posed by some of the EU regulations, particularly around agriculture and food.

I certainly raised this with the former EU trade commissioner, as well as the new EU trade commissioner as recently as just a few weeks ago. We're going to work with the EU on the tools and solutions for our Canadian producers.

With respect to the U.K. and this trade continuity agreement, it is a bilateral agreement. We will establish a Canada-U.K. joint committee that will be modelled on CETA but will work bilaterally between Canada and the U.K. so that we can ensure the successful implementation of this continuity agreement between Canada and the U.K.

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Thank you, Minister. Would that committee you just mentioned be composed of officials and negotiators on both the U.K. and Canada sides, or would it include you and Ms. Truss as well?

What is the composition of that a committee?

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

It's a working level committee. It would comprise the right people on both the U.K. and Canada sides. The outcome or objective is clear: to create a mechanism to enable Canada and the U.K. to work together to resolve and ensure that this continuity agreement is applied successfully.

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

I had the privilege, as I hope other committee members did, of seeing the conversation involving you, Ms. Truss, our Prime Minister and Prime Minister Boris Johnson. I understand that the relationship between you and Ms. Truss is very positive.

Can you maybe let the committee know how you feel about the ongoing relationship between the United Kingdom and Canada, and your hope for that continued collaboration?

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

Thank you very much.

We have a positive relationship, because both countries believe in multilateral rules-based trading. It has benefited the economy and the people in both of our countries. We have a long history that goes back. We're very committed to entering into negotiations on a new FTA: one that we will have an opportunity to talk to people about.

I want to thank Secretary Truss and her officials for putting a priority on Canada, and for us to be doing this work together in the interests of our businesses and our people on both sides of the Atlantic.

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Thank you, Madam Minister.

Madam Chair, in the interests of time I see it is 12:46 and I know that you did want to get to committee business. If there is any time on my clock remaining I would cede it to you, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Thank you very much.

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

I'll take the time.

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

I ceded it to Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Minister, and your officials who were here as well.

We very much appreciate it. We know that it's been a tough year for a lot of people, and there have been a lot of issues. The U.K. is just another tough thing to try to get through in 2020.

Thank you so very much. Good luck with everything. We will look forward to seeing the day when you are able to move things forward in the House and for all of us.

If the Minister and her officials would like to leave, we can deal with some committee business.