MP Scott Brison is the Liberal International Trade Critic and, because of that, is the ranking LIberal on the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade. That committee is meeting this morning to listen to witnesses from a shipbuilding union and from the federal departments of finance and industry talk about Bill C-2:
An Act to implement the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the States of the European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland), the Agreement on Agriculture between Canada and the Republic of Iceland, the Agreement on Agriculture between Canada and the Kingdom of Norway and the Agreement on Agriculture between Canada and the Swiss Confederation
After the committee finishes taking its testimony on this issue, Brison has give notice that he'd like the committee to consider the following motions:
- Motion 1 – That the Standing Committee on International Trade request that the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, appear before the Committee during its study on Bill C-2 in order to answer questions regarding the state of Canada's shipbuilding industry.
- Motion 2 – That the Standing Committee on International Trade request that senior officials from Industry Canada and Finance Canada appear before the Committee during its study on Bill C-2.
- Motion 3 – That the Standing Committee on International Trade travel to Washington D.C. as soon as possible in order to meet with members of the United States Congress and Obama-Biden Administration.
- Motion 4 – That the Standing Committee on International Trade conducts a comprehensive review of the Canada-United States border, especially as it pertains to our joint trade and security pursuits with the United States.
UPDATE: Brison withdrew Motion 2 but there was considerable debate on Motion 1, with the Conservatives essentially accusing the oppostion of ragging the puck and delaying implementation of a trade deal. Liberal and NDP MPs argued that hearing witnesses on a given bill and asking questions of ministers on behalf of constituents — there are concerns about EFTA's impact on Canada's agriculture and shipbuilding sector — is precisely what they were elected to do. The meeting concluded without any conclusion to that debate so all of these motions will not be voted on at least until this committee's next meeting on Feb. 24.
I have a couple of questions:
1. What do Mr. Brison's motions 3 & 4 have to do with the Canada-EFTA Free Trade Agreement?
http://news.gc.ca/web/article-eng.do?m=/index&nid=431939
“Legislation for Canada's Free Trade Agreement with EFTA Countries Tabled in Parliament
January 28, 2009
No. 22
The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, today tabled in Parliament legislation to implement Canada’s free trade agreement with the states of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA)— Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
The agreement includes the elimination or reduction of tariffs on selected Canadian agricultural and agri-food products such as durum wheat, frozen french fries, beer and Canadian crude canola oil.
“Trade matters to Canada’s prosperity,” said Minister Day. “Free trade is more important than ever. At a time of economic uncertainty, our government is committed to seeking new opportunities to promote prosperity and long-term growth for all Canadians. This agreement is expected to bring solid economic opportunities for Canadian exporters and importers by enhancing their access to the wealthy and sophisticated EFTA markets.”
The Canada-EFTA Free Trade Agreement was signed on January 26, 2008, and is expected to come into force by July 1, 2009.”
2. Why do the opposition parties oppose free trade initiatives the Conservative government has undertaken with other countries like Korea and Colombia?