International Trade committee  I've said it before and I'll say it again: I think we need to be extremely careful in how we see our values and how we impose our values onto a great partner like Ukraine. Ukraine will absolutely need more help from Canada than we will need from them, especially over the short term.

International Trade committee  It probably would. Again, I haven't studied the issue in Ukraine, but it would probably make Ukraine a less attractive market to invest in. We've been doing some work on the carbon tax in Canada over the last six months, and we're starting to see some trends with industrial prices as well.

International Trade committee  That's a good question. When you look at Europe, essentially there's already a lot of work to be done. Ukraine could actually give us an excuse to expand our reach in that region of the world. My answer to you is absolutely, yes, for many sectors. Most importantly, with the R and D that we have in Canada, we can help Ukraine build its agricultural capacity over time.

International Trade committee  Through agri-food, we're looking at a food-insecure region. I mean, agriculture has been impacted by the war. Ukraine is not as influential as it used to be. I think we should aspire to make sure that Ukraine comes back to its old self, at the very least. I don't think it can achieve that without the help of Canada.

International Trade committee  Obviously, when it comes to agri-food trades, there is always a slew of sensitivities between nations. All nations will be protective of some commodities in some way. I think we need to look at different verticals in different ways, including the SM5. I think there are certainly issues there.

International Trade committee  That's a good question, Ms. Fortier. We do have to act. Most businesses in the agri-food industry acknowledge that climate change is the greatest threat to the sector. We also have to consider the various tools at our disposal, including carbon capture and storage. That technology was developed in Canada, particularly in western Canada.

International Trade committee  I'm thinking of genetic engineering, for example. A lot of work is being done in that field in Canada. We innovate extensively for ourselves, but we should also do it for other countries. Once again, in the context of today's discussion, we have to think about Ukraine. International trade can definitely create a larger carbon footprint.

International Trade committee  Technological empowerment would be. That's correct.

International Trade committee  Thank you for your question, Ms. Fortier. The invasion has definitely had appalling consequences for agri-food markets. Russia still influences the markets, particularly for wheat. It's now selling wheat at low prices to undermine exports from Canada and the United States. So its influence is quite significant, and that will continue for some time.

International Trade committee  I would see it more as an imposition, to be honest. On the one side, I would see this as a very western value being imposed on a country that has been devastated by war. Second, we also need to question the mechanism itself, the carbon tax. There is literature out there suggesting that sometimes the carbon tax may not actually achieve the goals we're trying to reach from an environmental perspective.

International Trade committee  I see opportunities for Canadian companies to actually help empower farmers in Ukraine to use cleaner, more effective technologies. We often focus on clean and green, but clean and green also mean more efficiency. In Ukraine we know there's lots of corruption, and right now farmers don't have access to the best technologies possible.

International Trade committee  Absolutely. When reading the act, I felt that it was critical for both Canada and Ukraine to make this act, once implemented, a priority and a focus. One way to do that is to establish a council. We've seen councils impacting agriculture in Canada in a very positive way. I can certainly think of two examples, one of which is the Lobster Council of Canada, which is right here in Halifax.

International Trade committee  I just did, Madam Chair. Can you hear me now? The problem is solved. I ask myself the same question, Mr. Martel. We have to decarbonize the global economy, of course, but each country has its own economic reality. Ukraine will be developing for some time, and a significant carbon intensity cycle occurs when you rebuild a country.

International Trade committee  The invasion of Ukraine disrupted the entire world and the agri-food world as well. We've seen price rises for many staples such as wheat and barley. All of that has caused prices to surge, including the price of energy generally speaking. I'm not an energy expert, but the one often goes with the other.

International Trade committee  Thank you, Madam Chair. Honourable members of the parliamentary committee on international trade, it is my privilege to present before you today as we deliberate on the significant strides our nation is making in global trade and diplomacy, particularly through the Canada-Ukraine free trade agreement implementation act.