Debates of May 17th, 2017

Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development—Main Estimates, 2016-17

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Madam Chair, the mandate of the development finance institute will focus squarely on development. Its mandate will be directly linked to the act.

[Tracey Ramsey, NDP, Essex, ON]

Madam Chair, the development finance institute will be owned by Export and Development Canada, and it suggests that the parliamentary budget officer will have no oversight of the DFI. Is this the case?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Madam Chair, the parliamentary budget officer will have the same oversight as he currently does of Export Development Canada's other divisions.

[Tracey Ramsey, NDP, Essex, ON]

Madam Chair, I will move on to trade-related questions on NAFTA.

In a recent editorial, Ed Broadbent made the case that human rights should be at the forefront of a new NAFTA. He wrote:

While job losses and the shift of income from wages to profits have been in part due to technological change, the latest report of the International Monetary Fund's World Economic Outlook notes that global competition has also [contributed].... Together with the decline of unions, such competition has contributed to the marked rise in inequality within most countries around the world.

Does the minister agree that human rights, including environmental and labour rights, should be at the centre of trade deals, yes or no?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Madam Chair, I promised myself earlier today, when the member for Essex introduced me to her parents, who are here, that I would recognize them. There may not be that many Canadians watching us tonight, but I bet those two Canadians are and are very proud of their daughter.

Our government strongly believes in a progressive trade agenda that very much includes environmental and labour rights and also women's rights. That is something we have been advancing in all our trade agreements. I see some real opportunities in NAFTA modernization to raise the environmental and labour standards.

[Tracey Ramsey, NDP, Essex, ON]

Madam Chair, will the minister push for NAFTA's labour and environment side agreements to be brought into the main agreement, yes or no?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Madam Chair, the NAFTA negotiations have not yet begun, and the 90-day clock has not started. I am very clear that I am not going to put all of Canada's cards on the table at this early moment, but I do want to assure the member opposite, and all Canadians, that I am very committed to strengthening—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. for Essex.

[Tracey Ramsey, NDP, Essex, ON]

Madam Chair, NAFTA includes an energy proportionality clause that requires Canada to guarantee U.S. access to our energy resources in perpetuity. If Canada does not negotiate this clause out of NAFTA, how could it impact on Canada's ability to meet our Paris climate commitments?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Madam Chair, I would like to very sincerely thank the member opposite for raising the issue of the energy ratchet clause. That is something I have been looking at closely with my officials. If and when NAFTA negotiations begin, I think that is certainly something—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member for Essex.

[Tracey Ramsey, NDP, Essex, ON]

Madam Chair, I would like to read a quote from Daniel Ujczo, with the Canadian/American Border Trade Alliance, who appeared before the trade committee on May 4 of this year. He stated:

...I think chapter 11 has no place in a new NAFTA. It doesn't make any sense for Canadians or the United States to have that. That was put in there for the Mexicans, no question about that. Reasonable minds can also disagree, or agree, on chapter 19.

Will the government ask for chapter 11 to be revisited, with the goal of removing it entirely from NAFTA?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Madam Chair, let me start with chapter 19. This is a very important chapter for Canada. We have all spoken a lot about softwood lumber, and the chapter 19 tribunals are a very important place for Canadian companies to establish their rights. That is going to be a strong Canadian position now and going forward.

[Tracey Ramsey, NDP, Essex, ON]

Madam Chair, that was my next question, so I will go back to the previous question.

This dispute resolution in chapter 11 is a system that has worked against Canada's interests for the past 20-plus years. Will the government ask for chapter 11 to be revisited, with the goal of removing it entirely from NAFTA?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Madam Chair, I have, for a long time, been clear that there are significant issues with ISDS provisions in many trade agreements, and the Canadian experience shows that. Having said that, when it comes to specific negotiating goals, we are going to keep our powder dry, just to the point—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member for Essex.

[Tracey Ramsey, NDP, Essex, ON]

Madam Chair, labour mobility is obviously a huge concern in my riding of Essex. We are down on the border. A lot of people who come from our region work and live in the U.S. What would the minister want to see happen with labour mobility in NAFTA renegotiations?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Madam Chair, this gives me a chance to go back to the labour point, and I think the fact that Canada has now committed to ratifying this final ILO convention is a moment worth celebrating. That is something that we can support together, and it does show our government's commitment to labour rights and international obligations.

[Tracey Ramsey, NDP, Essex, ON]

Madam Chair, many communities, including my own, are very concerned about the thickening of the Canada-U.S. border. Canadians know the importance of efficient, secure trade at the border because so many thousands of jobs depend on it, both here and in the U.S.

We also know that border infrastructure is woefully inadequate. I am very pleased that a new bridge is on track for my region of Windsor Essex. Communities across Canada are crying out for a better border infrastructure. What are the government's plans to improve border infrastructure?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Madam Chair, I very much share the member's view that Canada and Canadians benefit from a border that is thin, a border that is easily crossed, a border that has very strong infrastructure. Our government is absolutely committed to building infrastructure and working in partnership with our American allies to facilitate crossing of the border, and I discussed that at some length yesterday and the day before in Washington.

[Tracey Ramsey, NDP, Essex, ON]

Madam Chair, my next question has to do with softwood lumber. Jobs losses are starting and workers' paycheques are being slashed and their hours being cut in Canada already. What is the cabinet's plan to support Canadian softwood lumber workers and communities?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Madam Chair, on that question I am going to defer to my colleague, the Minister of Natural Resources, who has responsibility. We are working on a plan, and I know he will share it soon.

I do want to come back quickly to the labour mobility point just to say I strongly support—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member for Essex.

[Tracey Ramsey, NDP, Essex, ON]

Madam Chair, I would like to flip over and talk about steel. I would like to know if the minister has discussed the unfair trade practice of Chinese steel dumping in Canada.

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Madam Chair, I have a lot of esteem for my colleague's work on the committee. Yes, I did raise that issue when I met with Chinese officials on my last trip to China.