Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on 
Foreign Affairs and International Trade

Issue 15 - Minutes of Proceedings - September 24, 2014

OTTAWA, Wednesday, September 24, 2014
(36)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met this day, at 4:15 p.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable A. Raynell Andreychuk, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Dawson, Demers, Downe, Eaton, Fortin-Duplessis, Housakos, Maltais, Oh, Smith, P.C. (Cobourg,) and Verner, P.C. (11).

In attendance: Mark Palmer, Acting Procedural Clerk; Natalie Mychajlyszyn and James Lee, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament; Mona Ishack, Communications Officer.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, July 8, 2014, the committee began its study of the Government Response, dated July 8, 2014, to the second report of the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, entitled: Building Bridges: Canada-Turkey Relations and Beyond, tabled in the Senate on November 28, 2013.

It was agreed that the draft report be adopted.

At 4:16 p.m., pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, September 23, 2014, the committee began its study to examine the potential for increased Canada-United States-Mexico trade and investment, including in growth areas in key resource, manufacturing and service sectors; the federal actions needed to realize any identified opportunities in these key sectors; and opportunities for deepening cooperation at the trilateral level.

WITNESSES:

Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada:

David Morrison, Assistant Deputy Minister (Americas);

Martin Moen, Director General, North America and Investment;

Christopher Wilkie, A/Director General, North America Strategy.

As individuals:

Laura Dawson, President, Dawson Strategic;

Michael Hart, Simon Reisman Chair in Trade Policy, Professor of International Affairs, Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University.

The chair made an opening statement.

Mr. Morrison made a statement and, together with Messrs. Moen and Wilkie, answered questions.

At 5:24 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:28 p.m., the committee resumed.

Ms. Dawson and Mr. Hart each made a statement and answered questions.

At 6:09 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Adam Thompson

Clerk of the Committee