International Trade committee  It does not mean we're going to agree on everything. We won't agree on everything with the U.S. or with Mexico, but at least with this process we're engaged in a conversation through which we can be more knowledgeable about why we have sometimes chosen to go in different directions.

International Trade committee  All three governments have said that in terms of the SPP process the intention is not in any way to lower the health and safety standards we have in our regulations and in the policies we implement. Yes, as I mentioned earlier, part of the process of the SPP is to identify, when there are differences in standards, if those differences are ones that have been thought through, and why there are differences.

International Trade committee  Mr. Julian, I'm not a statistician. I'm not very good at analyzing figures. I know that the last time I appeared, my colleague, Tony Burger, came along with me. Happily, Tony is pretty good at analyzing figures, and I know he addressed this question with you to some extent. My own experience is that in analyzing gross figures such as that there are many different interpretations that can be brought to bear, both in terms of what story the figures tell you and also in terms of understanding how you explain the figures themselves.

International Trade committee  One of the key principles we're trying to address in the SPP is not whether the standards are higher or lower, because individual governments make that decision, but whether or not, when there are different standards, the reasons for those differences are ones that governments have thought through.

International Trade committee  Only in general terms, because it is up to officials from the Department of Natural Resources to discuss this issue with their Mexican and American counterparts. A number of issues have been raised in the discussions, such as the size of oil wells and the regulations regarding the tiles that are used.

International Trade committee  If I understand correctly, you want to know what I think about the ideas put forward by these two authors.

International Trade committee  I see. The subject of our discussion in the context of the SPP appears on our website. In my opinion, the issues you mentioned are not part of the partnership's agenda.

International Trade committee  Minister Clement has responded to the article that was in the media about this, as is appropriate, because Health Canada is the lead department. They're the ones who need to defend, to explain any changes they intend to make. The three governments don't jointly consult with stakeholders.

International Trade committee  Again, we haven't conceded that the SPP be an extra oversight mechanism or filter through which Health Canada, for example, would have to determine the changes they decide to make to Canada's policies falling within their mandate. They're the ones who best know the stakeholders with knowledge or interest in a particular area.

International Trade committee  No, actually Mr. Fawcett and I do not have presentations. I gave a presentation a week or so ago. Basically, we're here to answer questions.

International Trade committee  Thank you. I think there's a bit of a mismatch between people's expectations of the SPP and the way in which governments have constructed the architecture. Governments have conceived of the SPP as a mechanism for departments and officials who have particular expertise to talk to one another about potential initiatives that governments could individually undertake.

International Trade committee  If Canada wishes to make any changes to its laws, regulations, or indeed policy, then the individual departments and ministers who have a responsibility for those policies, laws, and regulations are the ones who would have to consult with the stakeholders.

International Trade committee  As I mentioned at the outset, our department has a role to play in terms of the communications side of the SPP. In terms of ensuring what we're doing, the SPP is situated within the context of our relationship with our two partners. Two other ministries have the leads on the specific pillars, but if you want to know how we track this, I'd encourage you to go to the website the Government of Canada operates under our auspices.

International Trade committee  If someone was interested in one of the working groups, in a particular result that they're seeking to achieve, the lead department is identified, and that department remains responsible for any of the changes Canada might want to make. The SPP itself is not the mechanism that makes those changes; it's the individual departments that have the responsibility in that policy area.

International Trade committee  The SPP is not designed to track an overall reduction in barriers or regulations or indeed an increase in barriers or regulations. It's designed to be a cooperative process in which government officials who are experts in particular fields can examine the ways in which we might together do something to achieve a shared goal that perhaps wouldn't happen if we didn't talk to one another.