Debates of May 31st, 2021

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

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Madam Chair, I am going to assume that question was for me. Certainly one of the very special experiences of going into space is that we do see our whole planet, In fact, we can go around it in 90 minutes. It is a small planet and we all live together, all seven and three-quarter billion of us and about 200 countries. It makes us think a lot about a couple of things in particular.

One is that we should try to find a way to get along because there is nowhere else for us to go, especially when we look at the dark space that surrounds our planet. The second thing is that we realize we are doing things to our planet, environmentally speaking, and we need to be very cognizant of that to ensure we do not ruin the planet for our children and grandchildren.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Madam Chair, when I think of Canada's role, I cannot help but think about international relations and development. I wonder if we can get some thoughts on how important it is that Canada continue to play that role of supporting other countries around the world, so we can make a difference.

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Minister of International Development]

Madam Chair, the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates why it is so important for a country like Canada to be engaged on the world stage. We know that until everyone is safe from COVID-19, no one is, so that is why we have stepped up so much over the past year and will continue to do so.

[Leona Alleslev, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Madam Chair, I will be sharing my time with the member for Chicoutimi—Le Fjord.

My questions are for the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

President Biden, in his made-in-America executive order on January 25, made a clear statement about the priority and direction that the U.S. would take in terms of ensuring the future is made in America and by all of America's workers.

Has the minister gained commitment from the United States that Canadian companies will be able to bid directly on all aspects of the U.S. $2 trillion federal infrastructure plan?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Minister of Small Business]

Madam Chair, this is an area of extreme importance to Canada's economy. Our supply chain is inextricably connected to the United States. We will work with the United States to ensure there is no impact on Canada's exports.

[Leona Alleslev, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Madam Chair, could the minister let us know whether she has been successful in gaining a commitment that Canada will not be excluded from the federal infrastructure plan of the United States?

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

Madam Chair, I just want to clarify that Canada is exempt from buy America requirements due to the WTO agreement on general procurement. If there is an effort to expand or introduce new domestic content requirements under buy America, we will absolutely ensure that this does not affect Canadian supply chains.

[Leona Alleslev, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Madam Chair, we have heard that Canada's approach to the made-in-America executive order is to educate all aspects of the political and industry sectors in the U.S. on Canada's integrated approach to ensure they are aware of any unintended consequences. Speaking candidly, it could be viewed as naive for us to think that President Biden and our U.S. neighbours have not made themselves aware of all the consequences, yet decided to pursue a made-in-America action anyway.

Canada's approach is not working. The U.S. has cancelled Keystone XL. We have lost auto jobs. We are not making progress on softwood lumber. The steel and aluminum manufacturing industry in Canada has lost jobs as they have moved to the U.S.

Could the minister tell us how the policies and Canada's approach will be changing so that we receive a different result?

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

Madam Chair, the result of the last five years and the relationship despite challenges has come out well for Canadians, for Canadian steel and aluminum, and for our workers. Canada and the U.S. will benefit from our interconnected supply chains. We will make this case every single time. We will take a team Canada approach, working with exporters and workers, so that we are growing jobs on both sides of our border.

[Leona Alleslev, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Madam Chair, that has not been the case. The approach is not working.

The unilateral revoking of the Enbridge Line 5 easement remains unresolved, threatening the delivery of 540,000 barrels a day of petroleum products from Alberta and Saskatchewan that supply over 53% of Ontario's crude oil and 66% of Quebec's. This line is critical.

Has the Minister of Foreign Affairs met with the governor of Michigan?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Madam Chair, I have not met with Governor Whitmer. However, our excellent Ambassador Kirsten Hillman in Washington has had numerous conversations with her. We have a very active advocacy program under way to speak to people in the states of Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

[Leona Alleslev, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Madam Chair, could the minister tell us when he will be meeting with the Governor of Michigan?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, QC]

Madam Chair, I do not have any plans to meet with the governor of Michigan at this time.

[Leona Alleslev, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Madam Chair, this is critical. If the governor of Michigan is successful in shutting down Line 5, could the minister provide us with the plan that ensures the 540,000 barrels will be delivered by other means?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, QC]

Madam Chair, we have been very active to try to ensure this pipeline does not close down. Ultimately, we would like Enbridge and the State of Michigan to resolve their issue, but we have also transmitted an amicus brief to the courts so they are aware—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member for Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill.

[Leona Alleslev, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Madam Chair, the closure of the Canada-U.S. border has had a drastic impact on Canada-U.S. trade. Could the minister provide us with the value of the trade that has been lost due to the border closure over the last 14 months?

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

Madam Chair, essential goods and services continue to flow between the borders, ensuring that food remains in our grocery stores and that critical supplies get into Canada, including medicines and medical supplies. We have done this in an effort to ensure we are keeping Canadians healthy and safe, but essential goods and—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member for Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill.

[Leona Alleslev, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Madam Chair, perhaps the minister could table the value of the lost U.S.-Canada trade.

The U.S. is rapidly opening its economy and has a plan to do so. What conditions must be in place for the Canada-U.S. border to reopen?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, QC]

Madam Chair, Canada is evaluating on a real time basis when to open our border. We have had an open border with respect to the essential traffic of important goods between our two countries, but it is the Public Health Agency of Canada that will make the decision as to how fast and when we open our border again.

[Leona Alleslev, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Madam Chair, perhaps when that plan is available, the minister could table the conditions under which the border must reopen.

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, QC]

Madam Chair, as we make decisions about reopening the border progressively, we will make that information public.

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Chair, my questions will be for the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

We know that trade relations with our neighbours to the south have not been great since the Liberal government took office in 2015. Although the Liberals just signed a new free trade agreement with the U.S., the Americans are already threatening several important sectors of our economy.

With the rising price of softwood lumber in Canada, when is the Liberal government going to negotiate a deal to resolve the softwood lumber crisis, which is affecting Canadian businesses and families?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Minister of Small Business]

Mr. Chair, we know that the current duties imposed on softwood lumber are both unfair and unwarranted, and they are causing harm to Canadian communities and certainly including those in the U.S. as well home builders and consumers. We have consistently shared with the United States that we would be ready to enter into a dialogue around a negotiated settlement.