International Trade Committee on Nov. 7th, 2023

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

There was a GBA+ analysis done as part of this agreement. That's now something standard that we do that's really excellent, but I was also the minister who had something to do with the women's entrepreneurship program, which is about creating opportunities and supports for women-owned businesses and leaders to start and to grow their businesses today. As part of the women's entrepreneurship strategy, some tens of thousands of women either have started businesses or have seen their existing operations and businesses grow.

That's the commitment of this government and has been. It isn't just being able to provide business supports for women entrepreneurs. Remember that $10-a-day and affordable early learning and child care is the prerequisite but also a really important support to help women stay in the workforce, stay in their businesses and work to grow their businesses. Parental leave is something this government did right at the very get-go.

When I talk to businesses across the world, they look at what Canada has done. It's not social policy. It's supportive economic policy, in our view, and it has worked, because it allows women leaders and businesses to continue to grow their businesses, should they wish to, and to be a mom at the same time.

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

I understand that very well. Thank you very much for the answer.

The existing agreement is also being modernized with respect to the cultural industry. How will it protect Canadian culture?

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

Culture is at the very heart of nation building for all countries. Canada is no exception. Like you, I'm very proud of our unique Canadian culture. CUFTA, this agreement, contains a cultural exemption or exception that will preserve the parties' flexibilities to pursue cultural policy objectives.

I want to assure all members of this committee that Canada's ability to support our vibrant and flourishing cultural industries will not be affected or diminished by CUFTA. Having just returned from a trade mission in Japan with a very large contingent of cultural industries, I see first-hand not only the excellent cultural businesses in Canada but what they do when they grow into international markets. I think this agreement provides those long-term benefits for those particular categories of businesses.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kyle Seeback]

That brings us to the end of our time.

Thank you for attending, Minister.

We will briefly suspend and then resume rounds with the department officials.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kyle Seeback]

Welcome back.

Welcome to our officials.

We will now begin our rounds of questioning. We will start with Mr. Jeneroux for six minutes.

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's good to see you.

Thank you, officials, for taking the time to come.

I want to get a few things on record first before I go to some of the questions, just so all of us in the room are clear.

It was under former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper that Canada undertook Operation Unifier and the Canadian Armed Forces mission to bolster the capabilities of the armed forces of Ukraine through the provision of critical military training. It was under a Conservative government that on December 2, 1991, Canada became the first western country to recognize Ukraine's independence from the Soviet Union.

Conservatives will always work to ensure that trade agreements are in the interest of Canada and all Canadians, and nobody is debating whether or not we should have a free trade agreement with Ukraine. The current agreement, as you would know here at the table, the 2017 CUFTA negotiated by the Conservative Party of Canada, will remain in effect if this new agreement is not ratified.

I also want to just quickly indicate that Conservatives support Ukraine 100%.

That being said, I do want to get comments from whoever at the table here can best answer this: Is there a carbon tax provision within CETA?

[Bruce Christie]

I don't have the direct answer to your question, but there are always areas in a free trade agreement in which you can expand and improve upon the provisions.

There isn't a carbon tax provision in CETA, but we have an environment committee that can regularly—

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

Sir, I have another follow-up question to that.

Is there a carbon tax agreement in CPTPP?

[Bruce Christie]

No, there is not.

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

Is there a carbon tax portion within CUSMA?

[Bruce Christie]

No, there is not.

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

No. That's fair.

All of that being understood, there's also Ukraine's insistence on being a part of CETA as well, which we understand. Is that correct?

[Bruce Christie]

Are you saying CETA?

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

I'm saying CETA, yes.

[Bruce Christie]

Ukraine has indicated an interest in acceding to the CPTPP. They also have expressed interest in joining the European Union, but to my knowledge they have not expressed interest in the CETA.

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

With there being nothing on carbon tax agreements in any of the other agreements, there's a competitive nature then, I would think, to having a carbon tax limited to just this agreement.

Do you not agree that there should be a portion of this agreement on nuclear co-operation or a section on LNG? Would that not be of benefit to Ukraine during their time of war?

[Bruce Christie]

As I mentioned earlier, the provisions of a trade agreement are constantly being updated. In terms of those issues, nuclear co-operation or LNG co-operation, we can discuss those issues within the committee—the environment chapter. There aren't specific provisions in the agreement to allow the development or promote the development of Ukraine's LNG sector. Those provisions aren't typically included in a free trade agreement, but there's nothing stopping us from engaging in discussions as they pertain to trade obligations.

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

You can put in a carbon tax element in a trade agreement, but you can't put in anything that would support LNG co-operation.

[Bruce Christie]

The difference for the client.... First of all, on the carbon tax point, this is a co-operation-based discussion in the agreement. There aren't binding provisions on carbon taxes or climate change. What we've included in this trade agreement is an ability for the parties to discuss, to ensure that any trade initiatives don't hinder parties' abilities to promote climate change initiatives, and that would include the imposition of a carbon tax. However, those are not binding provisions; they are co-operation provisions.

On the development of the LNG sector, that usually is found outside of a trade agreement. There are no binding provisions in that regard. That's not to say that Canada couldn't work with Ukraine to further develop its LNG sector, but it is not found in this trade agreement.

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

We just clarified at the beginning of my comments that usually—in your words—there has not been mention of a carbon tax in previous agreements, and now you say that usually there is not the inclusion of LNG in agreements.

Again, what would stop the ability to put LNG co-operation into this particular agreement?

[Bruce Christie]

Nothing would stop us, although typically in a trade agreement, you deal with the rules of trade and provisions to support derogation from those rules. In terms of promoting LNG co-operation, it typically wouldn't be something found in a trade agreement, but it's not to say we couldn't discuss it within the environment committee of this agreement to look for further co-operation.

Most of that work I believe would be found outside of a typical trade agreement.

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

Could you put an LNG co-operation into this trade agreement now?

[Bruce Christie]

The text is finalized. The text has been signed by our leaders. It would be too late to amend the agreement, but down the road, further to implementation, we could look at improving any aspect of the agreement.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kyle Seeback]

Thank you.

We'll now move to our next round of questioning.

Mr. Miao, you have six minutes.

[Wilson Miao, Liberal, Richmond Centre, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you again to the officials for being here today.

I understand that recently the Minister of Justice tabled the charter review statement for Bill C-57, which is an important part of the legislative process. Could you share with the committee the determination from the Minister of Justice on this bill?