Industry committee  We're looking at a temporary moratorium, pending further review by yourselves. I'm not suggesting that this would be a permanent measure, but I think the study that has been ordered to look into this possibility is appropriate, recognizing that we're in a particular situation wit

Industry committee  The United Front Work Department of the Chinese Communist Party is designed to bring people from outside of the Chinese Communist Party into compliance with the goals and agenda of the party, both domestically in China and internationally, including in Canada. There's quite a sop

Industry committee  That's an excellent question. I do think that the pre-existing economic leverage that China has in Canada—important Canadian firms that have extensive business dealings with Chinese Communist networks and at the same time have influence over decision-makers, particularly, let's

Industry committee  I don't think we are adequately on top of this because of essentially the nature of the Chinese state investment. Other countries that are doing studies comparable to our own, such as the U.K., the U.S., India and Australia, all mention China in their mandates. I think that whe

Industry committee  Yes, I do. I do support the idea of a temporary moratorium pending further investigation by Parliament and the setting of clearer criteria for these kinds of investments. We need more awareness of how this works, where the Canadian interest lies and more clarity on the idea of ne

Industry committee  I would like to speak to the aspect of your study on determining whether Canada should place a temporary moratorium on acquisitions from state-owned enterprises of authoritarian countries. My area of expertise is China, so I'll talk about Chinese state-owned enterprises in this r

Industry committee  Thank you, Chair. Good morning, everybody. I'd like to speak on the aspect of your study of the Investment Canada Act that is to determine whether Canada should place a temporary moratorium on acquisitions from state-owned enterprises of authoritarian countries, and I am happy

Industry committee  Yes, I am on English.

Industry committee  Okay. The committee has been asked to conduct a study of the Investment Canada Act to determine whether Canada should place a temporary moratorium on acquisitions from state-owned enterprises of authoritarian countries. Is that good?

Canada-China Relations committee  Certainly we've had some very effective representatives in China from our provinces. I know of some from the province of Quebec, when I was serving in the embassy, who were particularly strong not only in trade but also in general in the discussions that occur between diplomats i

Canada-China Relations committee  Mr. Harris, the UN institutions are not very effective. I note that North Korea has ratified both of the main human rights covenants. Clearly, we're not able to get them to be in compliance. From that point of view, I think some of these institutions to some extent have been co-o

Canada-China Relations committee  I'm fairly confident that because the relationship between Canada and China is so asymmetrical in favour of China, we would not get this negative response. I think we would gain respect from China. They would expect us to not simply be passive in response to the successive outrag

Canada-China Relations committee  Definitely.

Canada-China Relations committee  It would be great if Canada took the initiative, as we've taken most recently with the conference on North Korea and the land mines. Canada has a history of coordinating with like-minded powers to achieve goods for the global community. I think we also need to strengthen our capa

Canada-China Relations committee  Yes. I agree. I don't think that our current policy is sufficiently aware of the necessity for Canada to try to stand up for our own values in our engagement with China, in the overall interest of the future of the world. The question is why it is that so many key policy-makers