Catherine Cobden, Eric Van Rythoven, and Rambod Behboodi made statements and answered questions.

Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay moved, —

That, considering that 22 service interruptions were noted during the first month of operation of the Canada Border Services Agency Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) portal, some of which extended beyond 3 hours, and that the service standard during the first four weeks remains below the 99.9% target set by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA);

Considering the numerous shortcomings reported by stakeholders, including errors in calculating duties and taxes, difficulties in making payments, inaccuracies in statements of account, problems logging on or registering for the portal, and an increase in the level of unexpected recourse to workarounds to manage the system since its implementation;

Considering the high level of dissatisfaction expressed by stakeholders, revealed among other things by the survey conducted by the Canadian Association of Importers and Exporters among its members, the results of which, forwarded to the members of the Committee, highlight an inability to reach the helpdesk to resolve problems, and a lack of knowledge of CBSA staff hampering their ability to provide adequate support;

Considering that all the stakeholders who testified before the Committee, with the exception of the Agency, have been sounding the alarm for several months, and again in September 2024, about the system's technical problems and the lack of training and consultation with stakeholders, and that these witnesses repeatedly contradicted or denied the assertions made by Agency representatives when they appeared before the Committee on March 19 and September 25, 2024;

Considering that the initial budget allocation for the CARM was $371.5 million over 10 years, and that as of December 31, 2023, the CBSA had already disbursed $556.8 million, an amount that has continued to rise in 2024 and will continue to do so in view of the numerous deficiencies to be corrected; and Considering that the development of the CARM portal was initiated 14 years ago, and that the Agency has postponed the implementation of its platform three times since 2021;

The Committee recommend that the Auditor General conduct a performance audit of the CBSA's development and maintenance of the GCRA, including the roles and responsibilities of suppliers and subcontractors.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Vance Badawey, Mona Fortier, Matt Jeneroux, Gord Johns, Richard Martel, Wilson Miao, Dan Muys, Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Terry Sheehan, Ryan Williams, Sameer Zuberi — 11;

NAYS: — 0.

Questioning of the witnesses resumed.

At 11:58 a.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 12:07 p.m., the meeting resumed.

Aaron Cosbey and Andy Kubrin made statements and answered questions.

At 12:42 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 12:47 p.m., the meeting resumed in camera.

It was agreed, — That the committee undertake a study of no fewer than three meetings to study the matter of China's subsidizing and dumping in Canada of low-quality tires and other goods, including steel and aluminum, cast iron piping, and milk protein, given the committee’s concerns around these practices, the risk of misalignment with U.S. measures, and the importance of preserving domestic jobs and industries.

It was agreed, — That the committee undertake a study of no fewer than four meetings on the subject of forced labour in Canada’s supply chains, including determining the extent and current uses of forced labour in Canadian supply chains, the availability of alternative supply chains to avoid products of forced labour, the state of government action on forced labour promised in Budget 2023, the economic impact on domestic Canadian companies and workers from competing against cheap imports produced with forced labour, and the potential social and economic costs of further inaction by the federal government, and that the committee report its findings to the House.

It was agreed, — That the committee hold at least five additional meetings on its study of the 2026 CUSMA Review.

ORDERED, — That the clerk of the committee, in consultation with the Chair, prepare a draft budget respecting the committee's proposed travel to Washington, D.C., in relation to its study of the 2026 CUSMA Review, for consideration by the committee.