International Trade Committee on Nov. 17th, 2025

[Marie-Julie Desrochers]

For key words, I would say something like artificial intelligence. When it comes to e-commerce, things like audiovisual media, music and even books are now mostly consumed through podcasts and audiobooks.

E-commerce and the cultural industry are now inextricably linked. Obviously, we want Canada to be able to maintain its flexibility, its ability to act to protect intellectual property and cultural industries in e-commerce and in everything related to generative AI. That is another matter, and I do not think we need to go into detail about what we want in that realm today. However, it's important to understand that Canada doesn't have the same laws as the United States, particularly with regard to AI.

We want to maintain our ability to adopt laws that protect the works and productions of our creators and rights holders. We want to keep providing financial support to these industries through various measures.

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton, QC]

I know we're talking about renegotiation and review, but could you send us what you're asking for anyway?

I think it's important to address the policies that need to be on the table in the context of this review. If you send them to us in writing, we can then incorporate them into the report we end up presenting. We would very much appreciate that.

Before that, though, to what extent is the exemption clause important for cultural industries in terms of subsidies, tax credits and legislative measures? How necessary is it?

[Hélène Messier]

It's critical. I don't think any culture is able to survive commercially apart from American culture. Every other culture needs significant government support. Cultural expressions are diverse, and cultural industries depend on direct support and various assistance measures for their very existence. There's just not enough of a market to make it profitable. In addition to commercial value, the sector is of value to our identity and to protecting our language and our values. That means protecting cultural products and the ability of these industries and creators to keep producing cultural content.

I think it's vital. That's what makes our society unique.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Thank you very much. I appreciate that.

Mr. Mantle, go ahead, please.

[Jacob Mantle, Conservative, York—Durham, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I'm going to split my time with Mr. Chambers. I'm going to use my time to provide verbal notice of a motion for the committee.

I'll just read the motion to put it on the record. The motion is as follows:

That the Standing Committee on International Trade report to the House its disappointment that despite a unanimous request by the Committee, the Minister of Industry has failed to appear before it in respect of its study on the forthcoming review of the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA); and that the Committee recall its opinion, expressed in its motion of September 18, 2025, which specifically identified the Minister of Industry as a responsible Minister in respect of its study, that the Minister of Industry’s appearance is necessary for the committee to complete its review of the CUSMA, particularly given the critical importance of that agreement to the Canadian economy, including those industries for which the Minister of Industry is responsible, such as the automotive, forestry, energy, critical minerals, steel, aluminum, and agricultural industries, and their workers.

The clerk has paper copies in both French and English and will distribute an electronic copy as well.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Is there anything else, Mr. Mantle?

[Jacob Mantle, Conservative, York—Durham, ON]

No. Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Mr. Chambers, go ahead, please.

[Adam Chambers, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

Before I move my motion, I'll just mention that we went through this in another committee in the last Parliament. I know that many ministers enjoy appearing in front of committees when they're invited, but my understanding is that the Minister of Industry has not made herself available or indicated any time she would be available. I hope this isn't the same situation as last time, when the Prime Minister's Office was preventing the Minister of Finance from appearing at committee, but hopefully we'll see the Minister of Industry before we break for the winter recess.

With that, I will move my motion, which was distributed to the committee on Friday. I have no real comments other than we've tried on multiple occasions to have debates in the House and discussions about the importance of various sectors to the economy and the impacts that this unjustified tariff war is having on it. I'll leave it there if there's any discussion, but I'm open to reasonable amendments from my colleagues.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

We have a paper copy. Do you want to read it out?

[Adam Chambers, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

It was sent by email.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

If you can, read it out so it's on the record.

[Adam Chambers, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

Sure. In order to save some time, hopefully we can dispense with this quickly and get back to our witnesses.

The motion reads as follows:

That the committee report to the House that it condemns the unjustified American tariffs on the Canadian steel and aluminum industry, and that it call upon the government to live up to the promise it made in the election to “negotiate a win” for the workers whose livelihoods depend on a good deal for Canada.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

I think we need time to have a discussion on this motion.

Monsieur Savard-Tremblay, you had your hand up.

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I will have amendments to propose, so I would like to know if I have to submit them right away. If the debate is adjourned to the next meeting, that would give me more time to do it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

We only have five minutes left, Mr. Chambers, so could I suggest we complete our witnesses and deal with this at our next meeting if there are going to be amendments made to it?

[Adam Chambers, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

If we only have five minutes left in the meeting, that's not even time for another round.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

No, it's not, but we should at least complete our witnesses and deal with this.

[Adam Chambers, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

Every party has had an opportunity with our witnesses. I think if there's a friendly amendment, I'd be open to passing it expeditiously. That's if there's a challenge.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

What I'm getting from Mr. Savard-Tremblay and Mr. Naqvi is that this is going to be the subject of, I think, a fairly lengthy discussion. Could we complete our witnesses?

[Adam Chambers, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

How's this? In the spirit of giving, we can have the last five minutes with our witnesses—and I apologize for taking up some time—but I expect we'll be back to this motion on Thursday to start the meeting. If that's agreed upon, then sure.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Let me hear Mr. Naqvi.

[Yasir Naqvi, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

I think it's only fair to our witnesses that we finish with them. Mr. Savard-Tremblay may have some amendments. I want to review the motion a bit further, and I have some suggestions as well. I'm willing to take this up at the next meeting. I'll leave it to your discretion, but clearly we don't have enough time today to deal with it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Is everybody good with that?

[Adam Chambers, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

If we agree to start there at the next meeting, that's fine by me.