Evidence of meeting #90 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 across.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Maninder Sidhu Liberal Brampton East, ON
I'm running out of time, but I wanted to share the remainder of my time with my colleague.
Liberal
Terry Sheehan Liberal Sault Ste. Marie, ON
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much for your presentations.
We've talked about a lot of the different supply chains that are currently in place. One thing I would like to ask about is the supply chain related to the auto sector. I'm an Ontario MP from northern Ontario. I'm from a steel town. The whole greening up of the car industry, led by many of the various folks.... Currently, we're looking at another one with Honda, which would hopefully be located somewhere in Canada.
This is through you, Chair, to our presenters. It could be the Supply Chain Canada folks or anybody else who wants to....
Do you have observations of why we've been successful and what we ought to continue to do to continue to land those deals in Canada for that important supply chain around the auto industry in Sault Ste. Marie and the steel industry that Canada's a part of?
Thank you.
Vice-President, Public Affairs and National Policy, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters
I'd be happy to jump in.
We've been tremendously encouraged by these announcements from Volkswagen, Stellantis and Northvolt, and of course, the rumours of Honda, as you mentioned. Really, this is a moment—especially considering some of the investments happening south of the border—for the Government of Canada to be bold, working with its provincial and municipal partners to ensure that these opportunities come to Canada. These are not investment decisions that will impact any region, our economy or our supply chains for years—it will be decades—so now is the time to be bold.
In terms of continuing them and ensuring that we are successful, there are a couple of things. First, it's not just the investment. It's all of the supporting factors that will make these projects successful. It's ensuring the availability of skilled labour and ensuring that the transportation infrastructure to support the supply chain flows is adequate. All of these things matter, as well as the regulatory environment.
There's a lot of private investment making decisions on where to invest that are not connected specifically to the Government of Canada or provincial investments. They're being made based on certainty and on regulatory issues.
It's really taking a holistic view. It's how you marry strategic investments with all of those other things to make sure that projects big and small find their way into all regions of this country and communities across this province, and the rest of them, for decades to come.
Past Chair, Canadian Association of Importers and Exporters
I wouldn't mind jumping in.
I think this is a really great example of where the auto sector has done great work with the government in facilitating trade. There is a special program that customs has put in place, called customs self-assessment. We can't live without that, in our opinion.
That one, again, is going to be impacted by CARM. I feel like that one is a great shining beacon, yet somehow, we're not necessarily going to keep that same program. It will be a big lost opportunity if that is impacted.
Bloc
The Vice-Chair Bloc Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay
Thank you, Ms. Campbell.
We have completed the third round of questions. Is it the will of the committee to end the meeting or to have another round of questions in the time we have left?
Committee members have indicated to me that they would like to start another round of questions.
Who from the Conservative Party would like to speak?
Conservative
Tony Baldinelli Conservative Niagara Falls, ON
If I may, yes, I'd like to ask the panel a couple more questions.
Bloc
Conservative
Tony Baldinelli Conservative Niagara Falls, ON
Ms. Campbell, I would like to follow up from our previous questions. With your extensive background with CBSA and some of the issues that we find at our border crossings in terms of staffing, what are you hearing about the staffing complements that are there now? Are they adequate to service the needs that we're facing?
February 1st, 2024 / 5:15 p.m.
Past Chair, Canadian Association of Importers and Exporters
Generally, at the ports, I feel things seem to be operating well. What we've been challenged with over the years is perhaps the team that has been charged to manage CBSA. We've seen most of them, probably, in the last 10 years, come from outside of the agency. Recently, we've definitely seen folks coming in from the tax side. I feel that's been part of the challenge. They're trying to make it a tax regime, not understanding the dynamic and importance of the border.
That's definitely been a challenge we would reflect upon.
Conservative
Tony Baldinelli Conservative Niagara Falls, ON
Yes, those border delays need to be considered when we're talking about supply chains. They're quite extensive at some times in our area, in particular. We need to address that, and staffing shortages are part of that.
Mr. Whelan, I was just looking through the national supply chain task force report. As part of that, there were some recommendations where timings were required. Some of them were immediate requests of the government, and there was one with regard to waiving 50% of airport rent payments on a short-term basis to enable airport authorities to invest the capital in order to enhance their facilities.
Can you provide an update on that, namely the recommendation to government on that, and what has occurred as a result of that recommendation?
Board Chair, National Board of Directors, Supply Chain Canada
Mr. Montanti is the expert on this report from our perspective.
Chief Executive Officer and President, Supply Chain Canada
Yes. It was more the transportation industry that was looking at that further, so I don't really have any more comments on that. I'm sorry about that.
Conservative
Tony Baldinelli Conservative Niagara Falls, ON
Mr. Whelan, there was a recommendation under the timing of immediate. It said, “Complete twinning of Highway 185, which connects Quebec to New Brunswick.”
Are there any updates on that? Did the government fulfill that pledge? Was the funding provided? Do we know?
Board Chair, National Board of Directors, Supply Chain Canada
We're in the same position on that one as the last question. That was more of a transportation point.
Conservative
Board Chair, National Board of Directors, Supply Chain Canada
I can't answer that, no.
Conservative
Conservative
Tako Van Popta Conservative Langley—Aldergrove, BC
I have a question for either Mr. Whelan or Mr. Montanti.
It again refers to the final report of the national supply chain task force. You talked about some town halls. I was at one of them in Vancouver, and I listened intently to many of the participants. They pointed to the long-term strategic actions on page 35. Number one was to “Establish a Supply Chain Office to unify the federal government's responsibility”. That was to have been started within 12 months. We're at about 18 months now, and I wonder what the status is of that supply chain office.
Chief Executive Officer and President, Supply Chain Canada
From what I understand, that hasn't moved forward at all. That's been one of the recommendations that hasn't moved forward.
Conservative
Tako Van Popta Conservative Langley—Aldergrove, BC
Is there any reason for that? I know the participants at the meeting I was at were concerned that it might become another bureaucratic boondoggle. The idea sounds great, but how is it going to work out? Do you know what is causing the delay?
Chief Executive Officer and President, Supply Chain Canada
No, I don't, sorry.