Issue 29

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1995
(Meeting No. 72)

[Text]

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met at 9:10 o'clock a.m. this day, in Room 371, West Block, the Chair, Bill Graham, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Reg Alcock, Colleen Beaumier, John English, Jesse Flis, Bill Graham, Walt Lastewka, Bob Mills, Charlie Penson, Bob Speller and Joseph Volpe.

In attendance: From Warren Coutts and Associates: Warren Coutts. From the Parliamentary Centre: Phil Rourke and Randolph Gherson.

Witnesses: From Millenium Insurance: Ron Doyle, President. From Sharwood and Company: Gordon Sharwood, President. From Susan Whitney Gallery: Susan Whitney. From Stony Plain Recording Co. Ltd.: Holger Peterson. From Les éditions la courte échelle: Bertrand Gauthier, President and Barbara Creary, Publisher and Foreign Rights Director.

In accordance with its mandate under Standing Order 108(2), the Committee resumed its study of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in the globalized economy: the Canadian experience. (See Minutes of Proceedings dated September 26, 1995, Meeting No. 64, Issue No. 28).

Ron Doyle from Millenium Insurance and Gordon Sharwood from Sharwood and Company, each made statements and answered questions.

Moved by Colleen Beaumier,--That further to the Committee's decisions of May 11, May 31 and June 13, 1995, the membership of the Sub-Committee on Human Rights be increased to five (5) members, and that membership list be amended to read as follows: Colleen Beaumier, John English, Bernard Patry, Lee Morrison and Svend Robinson; and that further, upon the designating of a member of the Bloc Québécois, the membership be increased to seven (7) members to include a member of the Bloc Québécois and an additional member of the Liberal Party.

And debate arising thereon.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed,--That the motion be withdrawn.

At 10:15 o'clock a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 10:25 o'clock a.m., the sitting resumed.

Susan Whitney from Susan Whitney Gallery; Holger Peterson from Stony Plain Recording Co. Ltd.; and Bertrand Gauthier from Les éditions de la courte échelle, each made statements and, with Barbara Creary, answered questions.

At 12:01 o'clock p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

AFTERNOON SITTING
(Meeting No. 73)

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met at 3:40 o'clock p.m. this day, in Room 253-D, Centre Block, the Chair, Bill Graham, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Reg Alcock, Colleen Beaumier, John English, Jesse Flis, Bill Graham, Walt Lastewka, Bob Mills, Bob Speller and Joseph Volpe.

Acting Member present: Brent St. Denis for Bernard Patry.

Other Member present: Barry Campbell.

In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Gerald Schmitz, Researcher.

Witnesses: From the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade: Gordon Smith, Deputy Minister, Foreign Affairs. From the Department of Finance: Thomas A. Bernes, G-7 Deputy for Canada and Assistant Deputy Minister, International Trade and Finance Branch.

In accordance with its mandate under Standing Order 108(2), the Committee proceeded to examine, following the G-7 Summit in Halifax, reform of international financial institutions.

On motion of Colleen Beaumier, it was agreed,--That further to the Committee's decisions of May 11, May 31 and June 13, 1995, the membership of the Sub-Committee on Human Rights be amended to read as follows: Colleen Beaumier, John English, Bernard Patry and Lee Morrison, and that further, in the event of the designation of a member of the Bloc Québécois, the membership be increased to five (5) members to include a member of the Bloc Québécois.

Gordon Smith and Thomas Bernes each made statements and answered questions.

At 4:40 o'clock p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1995
(Meeting No. 74)

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met at 9:38 o'clock a.m. this day, in Room 705, La Promenade Building, the Vice-Chair, Joseph Volpe, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Reg Alcock, Colleen Beaumier, Bill Graham, Walt Lastewka, Bob Mills, Charlie Penson, Bob Speller and Joseph Volpe.

Acting Member present: Paddy Torsney for John English.

In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Gerald Schmitz, Researcher. From the Parliamentary Centre: Phil Rourke and Randolph Gherson. From Warren Coutts and Associates: Warren Coutts.

Witnesses: From the Canadian Exporters Association (CEA): Mark Drake, President; James Moore, Vice-President, Policy and Vanessa Hammond, Vice-President, Business Development. From the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade: John Treleaven, Director General, Trade Planning and Operations and John Mundy, Director of International Finance Division.

Mark Drake from the Canadian Exporters' Association made a statement and, with James Moore and Vanessa Hammond, answered questions.

At 10:00 o'clock a.m., Bill Graham took the Chair.

At 10:42 o'clock a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 10:53 o'clock a.m., the sitting resumed.

John Treleaven from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade made a statement and, with John Mundy, answered questions.

At 12:13 o'clock p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1995
(Meeting No. 75)

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met at 9:07 o'clock a.m. this day, in Room 371, West Block, the Chair, Bill Graham, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Reg Alcock, Colleen Beaumier, Stéphane Bergeron, John English, Jesse Flis, Bill Graham, Walt Lastewka, Bob Mills, Lee Morrison, Philippe Paré, Bernard Patry, Charlie Penson and Bob Speller.

Acting Member present: Gary Pillitteri for Bernard Patry.

Associate Member present: Leon E. Benoit.

In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Gerald Schmitz, Researcher. From the Parliamentary Centre: Phil Rourke and Randolph Gherson. From Warren Coutts and Associates: Warren Coutts.

Witnesses: From the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade: John Gero, Director, Trade Remedies Division, Trade and Economic Policy Branch. From the Department of Finance: Terry Collins-Williams, Director of International Economic Relations Division. From the Export Development Corporation: Paul Labbé, President and John Hutchison, Vice-President, Emerging Exporter Team.

In accordance with its mandate under Standing Order 108(2), the Committee resumed its consideration of the NAFTA and in particular the on-going negotiations relating to issues of countervail and anti-dumping duties. (See Minutes of Proceedings dated June 20, 1995, Meeting No. 60, Issue No. 27).

John Gero from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade made a statement and, with Terry Collins-Williams from the Department of Finance, answered questions.

At 10:08 o'clock a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 10:45 o'clock a.m., the sitting resumed.

Paul Labbé from the Export Development Corporation made a statement and, with John Hutchison, answered questions.

It was agreed,--That, in response to a request from International Pen, the Chair draft a letter on behalf of the Committee, to the Foreign Minister of Nigeria, regarding the case of Nigerian Writer Ken Saro-Wiwa.

It was agreed,--That further to the meeting of the Committee of September 26, 1995, the Chair write a letter, on behalf of the Committee to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha of India, to follow up on the case of Indian human rights activist Jaswant Khalra.

At 12:05 o'clock p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

AFTERNOON SITTING
(Meeting No. 76)
The Evidence for this meeting is not available because it was held in camera.

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met in camera at 3:25 o'clock p.m. this day, in Room 112-N, Centre Block, the Chair, Bill Graham, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Stéphane Bergeron, John English, Jesse Flis, Bill Graham, Walt Lastewka, Bob Mills, Philippe Paré, Charlie Penson and Bob Speller.

In attendance: From Warren Coutts and Associates: Warren Coutts. From Parliamentary Centre: Phil Rourke, Randolph Gherson and Peter Dobell.

The Committee proceeded to examine its future business.

It was agreed,--That the text of a letter from the Chair to the Foreign Minister of Nigeria regarding the case of the Nigerian writer Ken Saro-Wiwa, be approved.

It was agreed,--That in relation to its study of small and medium-sized entreprises in the globalized economy, the Committee convene an additional round table discussion to examine municipal and provincial programs relating to trade for small and medium-sized entreprises.

It was agreed,--That the Committee convene an in camera briefing on the subject of tariffs on agricultural products traded between Canada and the United States and the progress of the bi-national panels examining these issues to which representatives of the Departments of Agriculture, Industry and Foreign Affairs and International Trade be invited to appear.

At 4:28 o'clock p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

EVENING SITTING
(Meeting No. 77)
The Evidence for this meeting is not available because it was held in camera.

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met informally at 4:30 o'clock p.m. this day, in Room 112-N, Centre Block, the Chair, Bill Graham, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: John English, Bill Graham, Walt Lastewka, Nic Leblanc, Bob Mills, and Bob Speller.

Other Member present: Sarkis Assadourian.

In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: James Lee, Researcher.

Visiting Delegation: From Armenia: Vazgan Manukian, Former Prime Minister of Armenia.

Vazgan Manukian made a statement with the assistance of Sarkis Assadourian and answered questions.

At 5:05 o'clock p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1995
(Meeting No. 78)

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met at 9:10 o'clock a.m. this day, in Room 371, West Block, the Chair, Bill Graham, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Reg Alcock, John English, Jesse Flis, Bill Graham, Walt Lastewka, Bob Mills, Lee Morrison, Philippe Paré and Joseph Volpe.

Acting Member present: Stan Dromisky.

In attendance: From the Parliamentary Centre: Phil Rourke and Randolph Gherson. From Warren Coutts and Associates: Warren Coutts.

Witnesses: From the Canadian Commercial Corporation: Douglas Patriquin, Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer. From Forum for International Trade Training: Dieter Hollweck, Vice-President, Marketing and France Boulé, Director, Program Development. From the Canadian Manufacturers' Association: Jay Myers, Chief Economist.

The Chair called for a moment of silence to commemorate the death of Yitzhak Rabin, the late Prime Minister of Israel.

Douglas Patriquin from the Canadian Commercial Corporation made a statement and answered questions.

At 10:15 o'clock a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 10:23 o'clock a.m., the sitting resumed.

Dieter Hollweck from the Forum for International Trade Training made a statement and, with France Boulé, answered questions.

Jay Myers from the Canadian Manufacturers' Association made a statement and answered questions.

At 12:08 o'clock p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

AFTERNOON SITTING
(Meeting No. 79)

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met at 3:38 o'clock p.m. this day, in Room 307, West Block, the Chair, Bill Graham, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Reg Alcock, Stéphane Bergeron, John English, Jesse Flis, Bill Graham, Nic Leblanc, Bob Mills, Philippe Paré, Bernard Patry and Bob Speller.

Acting Member present: Charles Caccia for Colleen Beaumier.

In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Gerald Schmitz and James Lee, Researchers.

Witness: From the World Bank: Ismail Serageldin, Vice-President for Environmentally Sustainable Development.

In accordance with its mandate under Standing Order 108(2), the Committee proceeded to convene a presentation on environmentally sustainable development.

Ismail Serageldin from the World Bank made a presentation and answered questions.

At 4:28 o'clock p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1995
(Meeting No. 80)

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met at 9:05 o'clock a.m. this day, in Room 371, West Block, the Vice-Chair, Joseph Volpe, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Reg Alcock, Stéphane Bergeron, John English, Jesse Flis, Bill Graham, Walt Lastewka, Bob Mills, Philippe Paré, Bernard Patry, Charlie Penson, Bob Speller and Joseph Volpe.

In attendance: From the Parliamentary Centre: Phil Rourke and Randolph Gherson. From Warren Coutts and Associates: Warren Coutts.

Witnesses: From the Canadian Chamber of Commerce: Tim Page, Senior Vice-President, International. From École des hautes études commerciales, Université de Montréal: Jean-Marie Toulouse, Director. From Dalhousie University: Phillip Rosson, Dean, Faculty of Management. From the Canadian International Development Agency: Huguette Labelle, President; Pierre David, Director General Policy, Strategic Planning and Operations Division, Canadian Partnership Branch; and Romy Peters, Deputy Director, Northern Europe.

Tim Page from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce made a statement and answered questions.

Jean-Marie Toulouse from Université de Montréal and Phillip Rosson from Dalhousie University each made statements and answered questions.

At 10:30 o'clock a.m., Bill Graham took the Chair.

At 11:10 o'clock a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 11:14 'clock a.m., the sitting resumed.

Huguette Labelle from CIDA made a statement and, with Pierre David and Romy Peters, answered questions.

At 12:00 o'clock p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Janice Hilchie

Clerk of the Committee