Trevor Kennedy, Matthew Poirier and Bob Fay made statements and answered questions.

At 1:59 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 2:00 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Steve Verheul made a statement and, with Kendal Hembroff answered questions.

Daniel Blaikie moved, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study of Canada’s trade policy and trade agreements in respect of how they may help or hinder the production and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in Canada and across the world, including, but not limited to,

(i) Canada’s position with respect to a proposal at the World Trade Organization to provide “a waiver from certain provisions of the TRIPS Agreement for the prevention, containment and treatment of Covid-19” ;

(ii) how Canada’s trade agreements, like CETA, may be used to ensure Canada’s vaccine advance-purchase contracts are respected; and

(iii) whether Canada’s current trade position should motivate accelerated capacity in domestic vaccine manufacturing capability; that the committee dedicate a minimum of four meetings to this study, and, that the committee report its findings to the House.

It was agreed, — That the motion be amended by adding the words “and investment” before the word “policy”.

The committee resumed consideration of the motion, as amended.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study of Canada’s trade and investment policy, and trade agreements in respect of how they may help or hinder the production and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in Canada and across the world, including, but not limited to,

(i) Canada’s position with respect to a proposal at the World Trade Organization to provide “a waiver from certain provisions of the TRIPS Agreement for the prevention, containment and treatment of Covid-19”;

(ii) how Canada’s trade agreements, like CETA, may be used to ensure Canada’s vaccine advance-purchase contracts are respected; and

(iii) whether Canada’s current trade position should motivate accelerated capacity in domestic vaccine manufacturing capability; that the committee dedicate a minimum of four meetings to this study, and, that the committee report its findings to the House.

The Committee resumed consideration of the motion moved by Terry Sheehan, on Monday, March 8, 2021, which read as follows:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study on Canadian exportation of green, clean and low-carbon technologies; that this study include an examination on how Canadian clean technology such as hydroelectricity, wind energy, solar energy, carbon sequestration, grid management, and plastics recycling can impact an ever evolving international markets; that this study analyze the role that government agencies such as the Trade Commissioner Services can help Canadian clean technology businesses scale up and export to new markets; and that the committee report its findings to the House.

It was agreed, — That the motion be amended by adding the words “nuclear energy” after the words “solar energy” and the word “batteries” after the word “management”.

The committee resumed consideration of the motion, as amended.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study on Canadian exportation of green, clean and low-carbon technologies; that this study include an examination on how Canadian clean technology such as hydroelectricity, wind energy, solar energy, nuclear energy, carbon sequestration, grid management, batteries and plastics recycling can impact an ever evolving international markets; that this study analyze the role that government agencies such as the Trade Commissioner Services can help Canadian clean technology businesses scale up and export to new markets; and that the committee report its findings to the House.