Skip to main content

CIIT Committee Meeting

Notices of Meeting include information about the subject matter to be examined by the committee and date, time and place of the meeting, as well as a list of any witnesses scheduled to appear. The Evidence is the edited and revised transcript of what is said before a committee. The Minutes of Proceedings are the official record of the business conducted by the committee at a sitting.

For an advanced search, use Publication Search tool.

If you have any questions or comments regarding the accessibility of this publication, please contact us at accessible@parl.gc.ca.

Previous day publication Next day publication

Minutes of Proceedings

43rd Parliament, 2nd Session
Meeting 19
Friday, March 12, 2021, 12:59 p.m. to 3:07 p.m.
Webcast
Presiding
Hon. Judy A. Sgro, Chair (Liberal)

Library of Parliament
• Bashar Abu Taleb, Analyst
• Offah Obale, Analyst
Centre for International Governance Innovation
• Bob Fay, Managing Director, Digital Economy
Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
• Kendal Hembroff, Director General, Trade Policy and Negotiations
• Steve Verheul, Chief Trade Negotiator and Assistant Deputy Minister, Trade Policy and Negotiations
Business Council of Canada
• Trevor Kennedy, Director, Trade and International Policy
Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters
• Matthew Poirier, Director, Trade Policy
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on Friday, October 23, 2020, the committee resumed its study of Reform of the World Trade Organization.

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.

The committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to committee business.

Motion

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.

At 3:07 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.



Christine Lafrance
Clerk of the Committee