Evidence of meeting #110 for International Trade in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was trade.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
Again, I only have five minutes, so I'm going to cut you off very quickly.
How about the global tax, the 3% tax that was announced in the budget? U.S. companies are now going to be paying that, yet Canadian companies won't be paying that in the U.S.
Can you explain to me why Canada would move ahead of the U.S. and other countries around the world on a global sales tax and why we'd put ourselves in that situation? It's similar with the digital sales tax, which is doing the exact same thing.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Digital Media Association
I'm sorry; I'm not briefed on that issue. I'd be happy to follow up afterwards. I'm able to talk about the Online Streaming Act
Conservative
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
Didn't you talk about the global sales tax or the digital sales tax?
Conservative
President and Chief Executive Officer, Digital Media Association
My members will almost certainly have strong views on that. I'm not briefed to mention that today, but I'd be happy to take the question back and come back.
Conservative
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
Okay. I'm going to move on, then.
We've had a team Canada approach, and, Mr. Volpe, I agree that it worked very well in 2017 and 2018, working with Wayne Easter,Brian Masse, the ambassador at the time and you. It was a very strong push to make sure that Canada was taken care of.
What I am concerned about is that we've heard another announcement of a team Canada, but I'm hearing that a lot of Canadians haven't been asked to be involved. None of the opposition parties have been asked to be involved.
Now, I'm kind of curious, Mr. Lemaire. Has either Minister Ng or Minister Champagne reached out to your organization to talk about team Canada?
President, Canadian Produce Marketing Association
Unfortunately, they haven't yet.
Executive Director, Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance
No. We've reached out to the government and made some invitations to come speak.
Conservative
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
You've reached out. Okay.
Mr. Volpe, you've probably been reached out to, I assume.
President, Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association
I'm always on team Canada.
Conservative
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
As am I, as is everybody in this room, I'm sure, but have the ministers reached out to you directly to get your guidance? You could provide tremendous insight in what we should be doing in regard to team Canada.
President, Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association
Yes, they did, and some of my guidance was to call the rest of you.
Conservative
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
Okay. I'm good. You can't control it if they don't listen to you, can you?
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Mr. Volpe, I understand that you have to leave us, so thank you very much for giving us your very important information and your knowledge.
President, Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association
Thank you for having me.
Liberal
Liberal
Wilson Miao Liberal Richmond Centre, BC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
First, I'd like to thank all the witnesses for being here today for this important study.
Before I begin, I'd like to take this opportunity to commemorate the important occasion of the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy. I'd like to invite all of us to remember, honour and pay tribute to the brave heroes who served in the Second World War. Let us always remember their service, sacrifice and their legacy of courage and ensure that their legacy guides us in fostering peace, justice and economic prosperity in this world.
Liberal
Wilson Miao Liberal Richmond Centre, BC
Madam Chair, I'd like to direct the following question to Mr. Harvey and Mr. Lemaire.
As we enter June, with summer just around the corner, we have witnessed that over 300,000 hectares of forest have burned down due to wildfires this year. Extreme climate events due to climate change are threatening our agriculture and agri-food sectors. Our federal government is building a sustainable climate resilience economy that will bring generational benefits to not just our agriculture but also our agri-food sector. This is a common standard in environmental co-operation in the CUSMA.
Could you please share with this committee your perspective on this environmental commitment made by not only Canada but also the U.S. and Mexico in relationship to supporting this sector?