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Minutes of Proceedings

44th Parliament, 1st Session
Meeting 113
Wednesday, August 21, 2024, 2:12 p.m. to 3:55 p.m.
Webcast
Presiding
Hon. Judy A. Sgro, Chair (Liberal)

• Garnett Genuis for Matt Jeneroux (Conservative)
• Ryan Williams for Kyle Seeback (Conservative)
Library of Parliament
• Offah Obale, Analyst
 
House of Commons
• Dan Muys
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(4), the committee commenced consideration of the request by members of the committee to undertake a study on the protection of Canada’s manufacturing sector from Chinese imports, including electric vehicles.

Motion

Ryan Williams moved, — That, given the risk heavily-subsidized Chinese-made electric vehicles pose to the over 600,000 Canadian workers in the steel, aluminum, mining, and auto-manufacturing industries, as well as risk to the $52.4 billion of taxpayers money the Federal Government has spent on corporate subsidies for the electric vehicle industry in Canada, the committee begin a study of at least 8 meetings into the impact of tariffs on local industry and use of trade remedies to protect against Chinese Electric Vehicles, with 4 meetings held before September 30th, 2024, and that the meetings consist of: 

• One 2-hour meeting with the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade, and Economic Development, and officials from Global Affairs Canada on the issue of tariffs and impacts on local industry. 

• One 2-hour meeting with the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and officials from the Department of Finance.

  • One 2-hour meeting with the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry, and official from the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. 

• One 2-hour meeting with the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and officials from the Department of Global Affairs. 

• At least four meetings with stakeholders deemed relevant to the subject. 

that the committee request copies in both official languages, of all submissions made to the Federal Government’s public consultation which ran from July 2nd to August 1st, 2024 on protecting Canadian workers and electric vehicle supply chains from unfair Chinese trade practices, that the copies be sent to the clerk for distribution to committee members prior to the commencing of the study, that the committee report its findings to the House, and that the committee immediately report to the House of Commons that the Government immediately match the United States’ tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel, aluminum, critical minerals, and EV batteries and battery parts, and remove Chinese-made electric vehicles from all Federal electric vehicle subsidy and rebate programs.

Debate arose thereon.

At 2:20 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 2:42 p.m., the meeting resumed in public.

The committee resumed consideration of the motion of Ryan Williams, which read as follows:

That, given the risk heavily-subsidized Chinese-made electric vehicles pose to the over 600,000 Canadian workers in the steel, aluminum, mining, and auto-manufacturing industries, as well as risk to the $52.4 billion of taxpayers money the Federal Government has spent on corporate subsidies for the electric vehicle industry in Canada, the committee begin a study of at least 8 meetings into the impact of tariffs on local industry and use of trade remedies to protect against Chinese Electric Vehicles, with 4 meetings held before September 30th, 2024, and that the meetings consist of: 

• One 2-hour meeting with the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade, and Economic Development, and officials from Global Affairs Canada on the issue of tariffs and impacts on local industry. 

• One 2-hour meeting with the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and officials from the Department of Finance.

  • One 2-hour meeting with the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry, and official from the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. 

• One 2-hour meeting with the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and officials from the Department of Global Affairs. 

• At least four meetings with stakeholders deemed relevant to the subject.

  that the committee request copies in both official languages, of all submissions made to the Federal Government’s public consultation which ran from July 2nd to August 1st, 2024 on protecting Canadian workers and electric vehicle supply chains from unfair Chinese trade practices, that the copies be sent to the clerk for distribution to committee members prior to the commencing of the study, that the committee report its findings to the House, and that the committee immediately report to the House of Commons that the Government immediately match the United States’ tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel, aluminum, critical minerals, and EV batteries and battery parts, and remove Chinese-made electric vehicles from all Federal electric vehicle subsidy and rebate programs. 

Amendment

Maninder Sidhu moved, —

That the motion be amended by replacing the words “spent on corporate subsidies” with the word “announced”.

After debate, the amendment was agreed to.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That, given the risk heavily-subsidized Chinese-made electric vehicles pose to the over 600,000 Canadian workers in the steel, aluminum, mining, and auto-manufacturing industries, as well as risk to the $52.4 billion of taxpayers money the Federal Government has announced for the electric vehicle industry in Canada, the committee begin a study of at least 8 meetings into the impact of tariffs on local industry and use of trade remedies to protect against Chinese Electric Vehicles, with 4 meetings held before September 30th, 2024, and that the meetings consist of: 

• One 2-hour meeting with the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade, and Economic Development, and officials from Global Affairs Canada on the issue of tariffs and impacts on local industry. 

• One 2-hour meeting with the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and officials from the Department of Finance.  

• One 2-hour meeting with the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry, and official from the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. 

• One 2-hour meeting with the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and officials from the Department of Global Affairs. 

• At least four meetings with stakeholders deemed relevant to the subject. 

that the committee request copies in both official languages, of all submissions made to the Federal Government’s public consultation which ran from July 2nd to August 1st, 2024 on protecting Canadian workers and electric vehicle supply chains from unfair Chinese trade practices, that the copies be sent to the clerk for distribution to committee members prior to the commencing of the study, that the committee report its findings to the House, and that the committee immediately report to the House of Commons that the Government immediately match the United States’ tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel, aluminum, critical minerals, and EV batteries and battery parts, and remove Chinese-made electric vehicles from all Federal electric vehicle subsidy and rebate programs. 

Debate Continued.

Amendment

Maninder Sidhu moved, —

That the motion be amended by replacing the words “the committee begin a study of at least 8 meetings into the impact of tariffs on local industry and use of trade remedies to protect against Chinese Electric Vehicles, with 4 meetings held before September 30th, 2024, and that the meetings consist of: 

• One 2-hour meeting with the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade, and Economic Development, and officials from Global Affairs Canada on the issue of tariffs and impacts on local industry. 

• One 2-hour meeting with the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and officials from the Department of Finance.  

• One 2-hour meeting with the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry, and official from the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. 

• One 2-hour meeting with the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and officials from the Department of Global Affairs. 

• At least four meetings with stakeholders deemed relevant to the subject.”

with the following: “the committee begin a study of the impact of tariffs on local industry and use of trade remedies to protect against Chinese Electric Vehicles, starting on September 16th, 2024, and that the committee invite:

• the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade, and Economic Development, and officials from Global Affairs Canada on the issue of tariffs and impacts on local industry;

• the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry, and official from the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.

• stakeholders deemed relevant to the subject.”

Debate arose thereon.

At 3:06 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 3:27 p.m., the meeting resumed in public.

The committee resumed consideration of the motion, as amended, of Ryan Williams, which read as follows:

That, given the risk heavily-subsidized Chinese-made electric vehicles pose to the over 600,000 Canadian workers in the steel, aluminum, mining, and auto-manufacturing industries, as well as risk to the $52.4 billion of taxpayers money the Federal Government has announced for the electric vehicle industry in Canada, the committee begin a study of at least 8 meetings into the impact of tariffs on local industry and use of trade remedies to protect against Chinese Electric Vehicles, with 4 meetings held before September 30th, 2024, and that the meetings consist of: 

• One 2-hour meeting with the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade, and Economic Development, and officials from Global Affairs Canada on the issue of tariffs and impacts on local industry. 

• One 2-hour meeting with the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and officials from the Department of Finance.  

• One 2-hour meeting with the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry, and official from the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. 

• One 2-hour meeting with the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and officials from the Department of Global Affairs. 

• At least four meetings with stakeholders deemed relevant to the subject. 

that the committee request copies in both official languages, of all submissions made to the Federal Government’s public consultation which ran from July 2nd to August 1st, 2024 on protecting Canadian workers and electric vehicle supply chains from unfair Chinese trade practices, that the copies be sent to the clerk for distribution to committee members prior to the commencing of the study, that the committee report its findings to the House, and that the committee immediately report to the House of Commons that the Government immediately match the United States’ tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel, aluminum, critical minerals, and EV batteries and battery parts, and remove Chinese-made electric vehicles from all Federal electric vehicle subsidy and rebate programs. 

and of the amendment of Maninder Sidhu, which read as follows:

That the motion be amended by replacing the words “the committee begin a study of at least 8 meetings into the impact of tariffs on local industry and use of trade remedies to protect against Chinese Electric Vehicles, with 4 meetings held before September 30th, 2024, and that the meetings consist of: 

• One 2-hour meeting with the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade, and Economic Development, and officials from Global Affairs Canada on the issue of tariffs and impacts on local industry. 

• One 2-hour meeting with the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and officials from the Department of Finance.  

• One 2-hour meeting with the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry, and official from the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. 

• One 2-hour meeting with the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and officials from the Department of Global Affairs. 

• At least four meetings with stakeholders deemed relevant to the subject.”

with the following: “the committee begin a study of the impact of tariffs on local industry and use of trade remedies to protect against Chinese Electric Vehicles, starting on September 16th, 2024, and that the committee invite:

• the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade, and Economic Development, and officials from Global Affairs Canada on the issue of tariffs and impacts on local industry;

• the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry, and official from the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.

stakeholders deemed relevant to the subject.”

Debate continued.

Subamendment

Ryan Williams moved, —

That the amendment be amended by replacing the words after “the committee begin a study” with the following: “of at least five meetings, into the impact of tariffs on local industry and use of trade remedies to protect against Chinese Electric Vehicles, starting on September 16th, 2024, and that for these meetings, the committee invite the following four ministers, for a one-hour appearance per minister and officials each:

• the Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade, and Economic Development;

• the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance;

• the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry; and

• the Minister of Foreign Affairs;

as well as, stakeholders deemed relevant to the subject;”

Debate arose thereon.

After debate, the subamendment was agreed to.

The amendment, as amended, read as follows:

“the committee begin a study of at least five meetings, into the impact of tariffs on local industry and use of trade remedies to protect against Chinese Electric Vehicles, starting on September 16th, 2024, and that for these meetings, the committee invite the following four ministers, for a one-hour appearance per minister and officials each:

• the Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade, and Economic Development;

• the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance;

• the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry; and

• the Minister of Foreign Affairs;

as well as, stakeholders deemed relevant to the subject;”

After debate, the amendment was agreed to.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That, given the risk heavily-subsidized Chinese-made electric vehicles pose to the over 600,000 Canadian workers in the steel, aluminum, mining, and auto-manufacturing industries, as well as risk to the $52.4 billion of taxpayers money the Federal Government has announced for the electric vehicle industry in Canada, the committee begin a study of at least five meetings, into the impact of tariffs on local industry and use of trade remedies to protect against Chinese Electric Vehicles, starting on September 16th, 2024, and that for these meetings, the committee invite the following four ministers, for a one-hour appearance per minister and officials each:

• the Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade, and Economic Development;

• the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance;

• the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry; and

• the Minister of Foreign Affairs;

as well as, stakeholders deemed relevant to the subject;

that the committee request copies in both official languages, of all submissions made to the Federal Government’s public consultation which ran from July 2nd to August 1st, 2024 on protecting Canadian workers and electric vehicle supply chains from unfair Chinese trade practices, that the copies be sent to the clerk for distribution to committee members prior to the commencing of the study, that the committee report its findings to the House, and that the committee immediately report to the House of Commons that the Government immediately match the United States’ tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel, aluminum, critical minerals, and EV batteries and battery parts, and remove Chinese-made electric vehicles from all Federal electric vehicle subsidy and rebate programs.

Debate continued.

Amendment

Maninder Sidhu moved, —

That the motion be amended by adding after the words “unfair Chinese trade practices,” the following: “subject to necessary redactions due to commercial confidentiality and national security considerations,”.

Debate arose thereon.

After debate, the amendment was agreed to. The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That, given the risk heavily-subsidized Chinese-made electric vehicles pose to the over 600,000 Canadian workers in the steel, aluminum, mining, and auto-manufacturing industries, as well as risk to the $52.4 billion of taxpayers money the Federal Government has announced for the electric vehicle industry in Canada, the committee begin a study of at least five meetings, into the impact of tariffs on local industry and use of trade remedies to protect against Chinese Electric Vehicles, starting on September 16th, 2024, and that for these meetings, the committee invite the following four ministers, for a one-hour appearance per minister and officials each:

• the Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade, and Economic Development;

• the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance;

• the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry; and

• the Minister of Foreign Affairs;

as well as, stakeholders deemed relevant to the subject;

that the committee request copies in both official languages, of all submissions made to the Federal Government’s public consultation which ran from July 2nd to August 1st, 2024 on protecting Canadian workers and electric vehicle supply chains from unfair Chinese trade practices, subject to necessary redactions due to commercial confidentiality and national security considerations, that the copies be sent to the clerk for distribution to committee members prior to the commencing of the study, that the committee report its findings to the House, and that the committee immediately report to the House of Commons that the Government immediately match the United States’ tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel, aluminum, critical minerals, and EV batteries and battery parts, and remove Chinese-made electric vehicles from all Federal electric vehicle subsidy and rebate programs.

Debate continued.

Amendment

Maninder Sidhu moved, — That the motion be amended by deleting the following:

"and that the committee immediately report to the House of Commons that the Government immediately match the United States’ tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel, aluminum, critical minerals, and EV batteries and battery parts, and remove Chinese-made electric vehicles from all Federal electric vehicle subsidy and rebate programs.”.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the amendment of Maninder Sidhu and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Chandra Arya, Richard Cannings, Mona Fortier, Wilson Miao, Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Terry Sheehan, Maninder Sidhu — 7;

NAYS: Tony Baldinelli, Garnett Genuis, Richard Martel, Ryan Williams — 4.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That, given the risk heavily-subsidized Chinese-made electric vehicles pose to the over 600,000 Canadian workers in the steel, aluminum, mining, and auto-manufacturing industries, as well as risk to the $52.4 billion of taxpayers money the Federal Government has announced for the electric vehicle industry in Canada, the committee begin a study of at least five meetings, into the impact of tariffs on local industry and use of trade remedies to protect against Chinese Electric Vehicles, starting on September 16th, 2024, and that for these meetings, the committee invite the following four ministers, for a one-hour appearance per minister and officials each:

• the Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade, and Economic Development;

• the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance;

• the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry;

• the Minister of Foreign Affairs;

as well as, stakeholders deemed relevant to the subject; that the committee request copies in both official languages, of all submissions made to the Federal Government’s public consultation which ran from July 2nd to August 1st, 2024 on protecting Canadian workers and electric vehicle supply chains from unfair Chinese trade practices, subject to necessary redactions due to commercial confidentiality and national security considerations, that the copies be sent to the clerk for distribution to committee members prior to the commencing of the study, and that the committee report its findings to the House.

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

It was agreed, - That the deadline for members to submit witnesses for the study on the impact of tariffs on local industry and use of trade remedies to protect against Chinese Electric Vehicles, be Wednesday, September 4, 2024.

At 3:55 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.



Thomas Bigelow
Committee clerk