Evidence of meeting #132 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 tariffs.
A video is available from Parliament.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Understanding the importance of the green transition, do you believe that Canadian firms that export environmental and clean technology goods and services should be prioritized for participation in Canada's trade missions and programs? If so, to which countries or regions should their participation in trade missions be prioritized?
I'll go back to you, Mr. Cosbey.
Senior Associate, International Institute for Sustainable Development
I strongly agree with that. We know what our centres of prosperity are in Canada, currently and historically, and that's going to change. Climate change changes everything. We are going to see, increasingly, a rise in the centres of sectoral excellence that give rise to prosperity in Canada. We already have more workers involved in renewable energy technologies and clean technologies than are currently employed in the oil and gas sector in Alberta and Saskatchewan. That trend is going to continue to increase.
Yes, we need to focus on those areas that can bring us prosperity in the future, in the global green markets of the future, because we're responding to the climate change policies of countries around the world when we think about what's competitive in our export streams. Those future centres of excellence should be part of our trade missions, and they should, as well, receive fundamental support from the Canadian government to foster their competitiveness. If I'm thinking about where you want to make those trade missions, it's probably not to our traditional partners, which would be the United States. I'm thinking in terms of not only Asian ones primarily, but also European customers.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
You're joining us from B.C. I don't know if you heard the first panel, but I asked a question around ITCs, in terms of the last year's fall economic statement, and around biomass, leveraging the economic and environmental benefits of waste biomass being converted for heat and energy, having a high potential decarbonization pathway and mitigating forest fires.
Can you speak about the importance of that, given that in the U.S. they are already doing this in their IRA and that they're a couple of years ahead of us?
Senior Associate, International Institute for Sustainable Development
Now we are really outside my area of expertise. I have non-expert concerns about the use of biomass in that way, just because I'm concerned about the sustainability of the base. However, if it can be sourced sustainably, in a way that doesn't impact the biodiversity and the regenerative capacity of our forests, then I think that's a sector deserving of our support, and ITCs are obviously one of the instruments we should be using in that respect.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Mr. Kubrin, we've heard testimony today on how new climate regulations could affect Canada's international trade, but the impacts of climate change are much more than just regulations. Can you speak about the moral imperative of humans to address climate change?
Volunteer, Citizens' Climate Lobby
Yes, I believe that it's an overwhelming moral imperative, and we all have an overwhelming moral imperative to address climate change. Our entire way of life, our economy, our health and livelihoods, and our very lives are at stake. We must act.
Thank you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
That's the conclusion of that round.
We have to do some committee business, so I will suspend so that we can go in camera.
Thank you to our witnesses. It was very much appreciated.
We are suspended.
[Proceedings continue in camera]