Debates of May 31st, 2021

Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development—Main Estimates, 2021-22

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

Madam Chair, Canada is a trading nation. Nearly two-thirds of our economy and millions of Canadian jobs depend on international trade and investment. As we prepare for a strong and inclusive economic recovery, international trade is going to be crucial to generate growth and create jobs.

People, businesses and the economy benefit from stable, fair, predictable, rules-based trade. Canada is a strong proponent of multilateral rules-based trade, with the World Trade Organization at its core. As a founding member of the WTO, Canada is leading the efforts to modernize and improve the organization.

We have been leading the Ottawa Group with international partners. We have been championing the health and trade initiative at the WTO to remove barriers. We are determined to find solutions with our partners and WTO members that will accelerate the production and equitable distribution of vaccines.

From the very beginning, Canada has been at the table and working to resolve potential barriers to vaccine access, whether they are IP or supply chain constraints, or expert restrictions. That is the work we have been working on. Through our leadership with the Ottawa Group, Canada is committed to working with all members at the WTO for a more inclusive, modern, resilient and transparent system for all.

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Madam Chair, I would like to ask the minister for a little more information on something she mentioned in her earlier remarks. I understand the minister was able to meet with her CUSMA counterparts.

For the benefit of all members in the House, I am not sure if everybody realizes that one in six jobs in Canada is supported by exports to either Mexico or the United States. I am hoping the minister could give us a few more details on this important meeting on the new NAFTA and its implementation.

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

Madam Chair, very recently we, my colleagues from both Mexico and the United States and I, held our first free trade commission meeting. It was a terrific first meeting. I might also say it was a historic one, where the trade minister, the trade representative and the secretary of economy were all women. We met to discuss the new NAFTA's implementation. We also talked about our shared priorities for recovery, which include the environment, labour and inclusive trade.

Canada's long-standing relationship with the U.S. and Mexico is an important one. Trade in North America creates jobs and economic prosperity for people in all three countries. Our people ties, as well as our business ties, have built one of the most competitive trade regions in the world. We talked about how we could advance climate action, how we can promote digital trade in North America and how to make sure that our economic recovery from COVID-19 is both sustainable and inclusive.

The new NAFTA is historic. Ensuring that we work together to create North American competitiveness for our economic recovery was what our meeting was all about.

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Madam Chair, I was very pleased and quite proud when I saw Kearney's Foreign Direct Investment Confidence Index of this year. In 2021, Canada rose to second place, up from fourth place in 2015.

Obviously there is a robust foreign direct investment strategy that our government and our minister, in her leadership, was able to implement. I wonder if the minister would like to comment on that aspect and on our foreign direct investment strategy.

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

Madam Chair, it is very encouraging to see that, despite the pandemic, global investors clearly see Canada as an attractive investment destination. For a second year in a row, as my hon. colleague said, Canada has held the number two spot on Kearney's Foreign Direct Investment Confidence Index.

Canada remains a top destination within the G20, and our economy is expected to rebound 5% in growth in 2021. We are attractive to investment because of our diverse population and our highly skilled and well-educated workforce. We know that foreign direct investment will play an important role in our inclusive, sustainable economic recovery from COVID-19.

It was very heartening for me to lead a number of virtual trade missions abroad. This is taking Canadian businesses abroad so they can access those global markets, but it is also featuring our very best entrepreneurs and businesses in those international markets to attract those foreign investments in Canada.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Madam Chair, the Prime Minister promised to negotiate a softwood lumber agreement in the first 100 days following his 2015 election. It has now been three U.S. administrations and over 2,000 days since the election. How many more days until an agreement?

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

Madam Chair, Canada's forestry industry is incredibly important. It supports hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country. We have been steadfast in supporting them. At every opportunity, I have raised the issue of softwood lumber with the United States—

[The Assistant Deputy Chair, Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

The hon. member for Kelowna—Lake Country.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Madam Chair, does the minister know how many jobs in the forestry sector have been lost since 2017?

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

Madam Chair, it is our position that we will continue to defend the softwood lumber and forestry sector, and—

[The Assistant Deputy Chair, Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

The hon. member for Kelowna—Lake Country.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Madam Chair, according to a recent natural resources committee testimony, almost 11,000 jobs were lost in the industry since 2017. Are these job losses a priority for this government?

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

Madam Chair, jobs and workers are always our top priority. We will defend the forestry sector, and we have reiterated to the United States that the best solution would be a negotiated one.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Madam Chair, if these jobs are a priority, does the minister have a plan to get them back?

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

Madam Chair, we are very committed to working with our Canadian industry to stand up for their interests, businesses and their workers, and work with the United States on a—

[The Assistant Deputy Chair, Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

The hon. member for Kelowna—Lake Country.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Madam Chair, how many times has the Prime Minister brought up negotiating a softwood lumber agreement with the U.S. President since 2015, which was when we last had an agreement?

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

Madam Chair, we have a new U.S.-Canada road map for economic recovery. As part of that, we have raised softwood lumber with the President. I have also raised it with the commerce secretary, as well as the USTR.

We will continue to do this for our forestry sector.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Madam Chair, how many times has the minister met with U.S. counterparts to discuss negotiating a softwood lumber agreement?

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

Madam Chair, my officials and I meet with interlocutors, from legislators to worker representatives to business owners, and we continue—

[The Assistant Deputy Chair, Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

The hon. member for Kelowna—Lake Country.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Madam Chair, how many times has the minister met and specifically spoken about a softwood lumber agreement with her specific counterparts?

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

Madam Chair, I raise it at every opportunity. I meet with worker representatives, and I work with business representatives. I have reiterated that it is in the interests of all to have a negotiated agreement between Canada and the United States.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Madam Chair, it was reported that Katherine Tai, the U.S. trade representative, stated, “In order to have an agreement and in order to have a negotiation, you need to have a partner. And thus far, the Canadians have not expressed interest in engaging”.

Minister, do you agree with her statement?

[The Assistant Deputy Chair, Liberal, Alexandra Mendes]

I remind the member to ask her question through the Chair, please.

The hon. minister.