FAIT Committee Report

CANADIAN ALLIANCE DISSENTING OPINION ON
“ECONOMIC RELATIONS BETWEEN
CANADA AND ASIA”

NOVEMBER 6, 2003

The Canadian Alliance takes issue with portions of the November 2003 Report on “Economic Relations Between Canada and Asia” prepared by the Subcommittee on International Trade, Trade Disputes and Investment in several areas.

Firstly, in respect to Canada pursuing lower trade barriers to trade or bilateral and regional trade agreements, the Canadian Alliance agrees that negotiations to further this end should be with those countries with whom Canada shares a free trade vision and respect for human rights as per the Report recommendation.

However, what is also clear is that while Canada is prepared to actively discourage trade relations with countries such as Burma, where human rights abuses continue, Canada is simply prepared to sacrifice human rights concerns in the People’s Republic of China on the altar of maintaining good trade relations.

The betrayal of PRC National Tao Mi by the Canadian government is a clear example, which has not been explained to the satisfaction of the Canadian Alliance either in Asia or in Ottawa. As part of the Lai Changxing IRB hearings in Vancouver, the Canadian government gave a clear understanding to Canadian legal counsel in Vancouver at an in-camera hearing that her deposition could be entered and that her identity would be protected. Canadian authorities shortly thereafter revealed her identity to Chinese police and placed her in jeopardy.

The government of the PRC has called the return to China of Lai Changxing as their highest priority. They have described him as their most wanted man. The Tao Mi deposition and other depositions, which are perceived by the government of the PRC to damage this eventuality at the Lai extradition hearings, are intolerable to the PRC government.

No plausible explanation for the betrayal of Tao Mi has been forthcoming from the Minister. This is further evidence that trade trumps human rights in our relations with the PRC and is the reason why the government avoids publicly including the PRC as a human rights abuser. Opposition members think it is important to name the PRC as a jurisdiction where human rights abuses are a concern irrespective of their status as a trading partner. The government position is hypocritical.

Secondly, the Report states that the, “subcommittee continues to examine different agricultural systems that do not provide subsidies or distort trade, such as supply management.”

The Canadian Alliance recognizes that a transition plan is essential if over quota tariffs are reduced and differs with the Report in regards to the status of supply management.

The Canadian Alliance recognizes that the landscape of agriculture is changing and with the current WTO talks, there is very real possibility that the agreement reached may result in a change to supply management. After all, Canada is the only country of 148 countries at the bargaining table that is asking for no reductions in the over quota tariffs. The Canadian Alliance wants to ensure the viability of all producers in Canada’s agriculture sector and that includes those who operate under the supply management system.

We believe it is in the best interest of Canada and Canadian agriculture that the industries under the protection of supply management remain viable. We will ensure that any agreement which impacts supply management gives our producers guaranteed access to foreign markets, and that there will be a significant transition period in any move towards a market-driven environment.

Finally, the Subcommittee itinerary in Asia was developed and handled in conjunction with dedicated and professional diplomatic personnel. The Subcommittee unanimously sings their praises. The Canadian Alliance representative was made aware during the trip of concerns developing within the professional diplomatic corps of the negative impact on the morale and the ability of the Foreign Service to recruit the best talent in the longer term if the government continues the trend of appointing diplomatic postings to political choices rather than from the Foreign Service.

Given that our diligent and respected Ambassadors and High Commissioners have a very positive impact on trade relations, this trend can negatively impact Canadian trade relations in the long term. The Canadian Alliance recommends that the government review its policy towards Ambassadorial and High Commission postings with a priority towards succession planning from within in order to retain a well-respected professional diplomatic corps.