Susan Yurkovich, Andre Harpe, Claude Vaillancourt, Jesse Whattam made statements and, with Erin Gowriluk answered questions.

Terry Sheehan gave notice of the following motion:

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.

Tracy Gray gave notice of the following motion:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study of no less than four meetings to evaluate the effectiveness of the Integrity Declaration on Doing Business with Xinjiang Entities and other government measures on supply chains involving forced labour related to the human rights situation in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region; that the Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade be invited to appear; that the Minister of Foreign Affairs be invited to appear; that the Chief Trade Commissioner be invited to appear; that Canada’s Ambassador to China be invited to appear; and that the committee report its findings and recommendations back to the House.

At 12:32 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:32 p.m., the sitting resumed.

The committee resumed consideration of matters related to committee business.

Tracy Gray moved, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study of no less than four meetings to evaluate the effectiveness of the Integrity Declaration on Doing Business with Xinjiang Entities and other government measures on supply chains involving forced labour related to the human rights situation in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region; that the Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade be invited to appear; that the Minister of Foreign Affairs be invited to appear; that the Chief Trade Commissioner be invited to appear; that Canada’s Ambassador to China be invited to appear; and that the Committee report its findings and recommendations back to the House.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Ziad Aboultaif, Tracy Gray, Randy Hoback, Ben Lobb, Alistair MacGregor — 5;

NAYS: Chandra Arya, Rachel Bendayan, Sukh Dhaliwal, Randeep Sarai, Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Terry Sheehan — 6.

Alistair MacGregor 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 debate be now adjourned to the next meeting of the committee scheduled for Friday, March 12, 2021.