International Trade Committee on Dec. 13th, 2021

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

During the brief adjournment, Mr. Hoback, Mr. Savard-Tremblay, Mr. Masse and I had a discussion. My understanding and takeaway from that—and I invite others to speak up—is that we would proceed with passing a single motion, which is the motion we've passed that was proposed by Mr. Sheehan and amended by Mr. Hoback, because of the pressing importance of the electric vehicle credits being proposed in the build back better bill by the United States Congress as it's currently formulated. My understanding is that future matters would be tabled for the subcommittee on procedure to outline. I think that's the proper procedure to follow in this case.

With respect to what Mr. Savard-Tremblay has proposed, he's hearing from other members of the committee that there's a lot of interest in that type of study because it is also an important issue. The most pressing issue at this point in time is the EV credit one.

I would propose we proceed on that basis, which is that the Bloc, the NDP, the Conservative Party, the Liberal Party and the members therein propose other ideas as well that can be provided to the subcommittee. If Mr. Savard-Tremblay wants to have that looked at sooner rather than later, we can have that meeting of the subcommittee on procedure as early as possible, including this week.

I do not agree with having a vote on that right now because that was not what was agreed to by the parties.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

He has the—

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

Is it possible to know exactly what was adopted earlier, word for word, please?

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Mr. Savard-Tremblay, it's already been dealt with. The committee already made a decision on what we were going to do—

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

Yes, but I would like confirmation of what that decision was, because obviously we didn’t all understand it in the same way. I would like it to be read out word for word what was adopted, please.

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Perhaps then we just have to read back into the record what Mr. Hoback suggested for the text of the motion on electric vehicles.

Mr. Savard‑Tremblay, you want to know what decision we’ve made regarding electric vehicles. Is that correct?

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

Obviously, this motion, which was the subject of a compromise, was not understood in the same way. I would like it read again word for word, please.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Mr. Hoback, do you have...?

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Again, what's been explained to me by my colleagues from the NDP and the Liberal Party is that there is an urgency—and I agree with them—to actually send a message to Washington. I said that if we're going to do that, then we should just keep it as vague as possible, but still get that message across. This would give the committee, in the future, the flexibility to shape that study as it sees fit, but we only do that one today. The reason we only did that one today is that I want the subcommittee to be struck and actually deal with all the motions in committee. For example, I have no issue with this one here, but if we force it today and we vote no, then how do we deal with it?

I'd prefer that you table it and let it go to the subcommittee first. I promise you that at the subcommittee it will probably be one of our top priorities for studies going forward. I think we can get you where you want to go, but the process is perhaps a little different than what you'd expect.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Mr. Masse.

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

Yes.

I'd hate to see this motion fail today just because it didn't go to subcommittee, so I agree. I think there are some things I'd like to add to the motion.

My understanding of where we're at is that we already passed a motion to give us some way to move as a committee and then we can get reorganized at the subcommittee. I see this as item number one to deal with. I'd hate for us to vote no on something right now and then it is the priority at the subcommittee. The other one is already there, so it already is de facto number two.

That's where I would say we go, if there is support for that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Mr. Savard-Tremblay.

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

I'd just say, Mr. Savard-Tremblay, that it's our priority at subcommittee. We already passed something. It is the priority. It's done.

This is, de facto, number two no matter what. But it can be number one in the subcommittee for us to deal with if we just move it where it goes, because I think there's more robust discussion to have on this. You're hearing a lot of good support for it. It's just process, really, at the end of the day.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

I just want to make sure Mr. Savard-Tremblay's got it.

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

If that is the way to proceed, I have no problem with that.

I was asking you, however, to read back the motion that was adopted. As Mr. Hoback has just confirmed, we were keeping the first motion vague. Nowhere does it mention that it must necessarily be considered first. If that’s the case, there are some things that we have misunderstood each other about.

Therefore, I repeat my request: Can someone read what was adopted please?

[Terry Sheehan, Liberal, Sault Ste. Marie, ON]

Madam Chair, if I could just chime in, too.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Yes.

[Terry Sheehan, Liberal, Sault Ste. Marie, ON]

As the mover of the motion that was amended, we wanted to send a strong message to our workers here in Canada from all the parties that we have their back, especially in this situation, and a strong message to American legislatures. That has just happened. We passed that unanimously from my understanding.

I agree with everyone that the softwood lumber dispute is extremely important, and I think Mr. Savard-Tremblay has achieved that today by having each party say so. When it goes to subcommittee, from my listening to the people who are going to be members of the subcommittee, it's going to be prioritized at the very top. It has been underlined and highlighted here in public. I think that has been accomplished as well.

That's my input at this time. Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

We have one further comment from Mr. Arya.

[Chandra Arya, Liberal, Nepean, ON]

Madam Chair, on another point, Mr. Sheehan's motion was submitted to the clerk in advance, it was circulated and it was available to all of us. Mr. Savard-Tremblay's motion was placed here on the table. My colleague, Mr. Sheehan, who is not here, who is virtual, may not have received a copy of this motion even to look at this.

The process that was adopted—

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

I would like to mention that it’s not my problem if you don’t know the rules that we do not have to send a motion before the election of the chair.

[Chandra Arya, Liberal, Nepean, ON]

In any case, Madam Chair, all this is moot due to the motion we adopted. After that first EV study, anything else will go to the subcommittee first, and that way it could be discussed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Yes.

Does everybody understand Mr. Savard-Tremblay's motion?

For any other motions, please, could you prepare them and get them off to the clerk so that the subcommittee can have a meeting as quickly as possible and start to move forward on our future work that the committee would like to do.

Mr. Hoback.

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

If we've parked that issue, then I would like to get to get to know the Liberal members of the committee. Could they just introduce themselves and go around the table, so we know where they're from and who they are. This committee is quite a bit different from what it was before.

We could do that now or a little later.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

That's a great idea, Mr. Hoback.

Let's start—