Evidence of meeting #111 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 mexico.
A video is available from Parliament.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
It's difficult, because your time is up. We only have five minutes left for Mr. Cannings. Maybe you could communicate to the witness and she can respond to you in writing.
5:25 p.m.
Bloc
Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
Could I ask that a written response be provided to the committee?
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
If you're quick, give it a try. I don't want to take away from Mr. Cannings's time.
5:25 p.m.
Bloc
Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
Very well.
Ms. Zalik, you are an environmental professor. If we want to deal with the climate crisis, more regulations will have to be enforced to protect the environment. In its current form, does CUSMA grant states the sovereignty to enforce the necessary environmental measures? Do you have any concerns about that?
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
If you could respond to that question via the clerk, it would be helpful. Thank you very much.
I realize the clock says 5:30, but Mr. Cannings is last and he wants his five minutes.
Please go ahead.
5:25 p.m.
NDP
Richard Cannings NDP South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC
Thank you. I'll try to be quick, then.
I'll stay with Professor Zalik.
You talked about the labour chapter in CUSMA and the rapid response provisions. You mentioned that you'd like to see them expanded to include agriculture and labour.
I'm wondering if you could expand on how you think the rapid response section has performed under CUSMA. Also, besides the agricultural aspect, how do you think it could be strengthened, and have we been enforcing it properly?
5:25 p.m.
Professor, Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change, York University, As an Individual
I just saw a series of presentations from Mexican specialists on the rapid response mechanism. In general, people feel it's been helpful in the broader process of labour reform. In Mexico, there's a general feeling, of course, that there's an unequal application of it to the United States and Canada. A similar mechanism should be in place that would not require federal approval for complaints about violations of labour rights. The ability to collectively organize and go directly to the rapid response mechanism, rather than requiring approval from Canadian or U.S. authorities, was one point that was raised. This would be significant. Expanding the priority sectors to agriculture would also allow, ideally, questions on migrant labour and the protection of migrant labour within Canada to be considered under CUSMA.
One of the other sectors that were raised was the energy sector. In relation to a question asked previously, it's notable that under the Mexican energy reform, one of the outcomes was the denationalization of the sector. This has led to a series of subcontractors for Pemex, some of which are U.S. and Canadian firms that are not easily governable. There needs to be a means of applying the rapid response mechanism to subcontractors in a range of different sectors. That's an area of concern.
Finally, in relation to an earlier question, the broader concern is that there are still state-to-state disputes regarding other concerns that have been raised. Trade is prioritized over social and environmental concerns that affect all residents of the continent. Thus, there is a need to have enforceable legislation that is not subject to cancellation by preferential clauses in the agreement that put an emphasis on the concerns of private firms over the need to enforce, for instance, commitments under the Paris Agreement.
5:30 p.m.
NDP
Richard Cannings NDP South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC
I'll turn to Mr. Barry-Shaw and ask the same question, more or less, about the labour chapter and the rapid response effectiveness up to now.
What would you change to what Professor Zalik mentioned?
5:30 p.m.
Trade and Privatization Campaigner, The Council of Canadians
From what we've seen, the rapid response mechanism has been effective in a number of cases where independent unions have been in recognition fights, basically, with yellow unions, as they're called—unions that are corrupt and not really representative of workers. This is often the case in the automotive industry, where these kinds of recognition fights have been going on.
It's very important for the trade agreement to support labour rights rather than help drive them down. From what I've heard from unions doing cross-border work with Mexican auto workers, it's been a help and has been effective. I would be delighted to see it expanded to other sectors of the economy.
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Thank you to our witnesses for their patience today and very valuable information.
I move adjournment of the meeting.