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

Issue No. 9 -  Minutes of Proceedings - June 2, 2016

OTTAWA, Thursday, June 2, 2016
(23)

[Translation]

The Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met this day at 10:31 a.m., in room 160-S, Centre Block, the chair, the Honourable Raynell Andreychuk, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Ataullahjan, Cordy, Downe, Housakos, Johnson, Ngo, Oh, Poirier and Rivard (10).

In attendance: Natalie Mychajlyszyn and Pascal Tremblay, analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.

Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, January 27, 2016, the committee continued its study on foreign relations and international trade generally. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 1.) (Topic: Bilateral, regional and multilateral trade agreements: prospects for Canada.)

WITNESSES:

As individuals:

Beverly Lapham, Professor of Economics, Department of Economics, Queen's University; and

Daniel Trefler, Ruth Grant Canada Research Chair in Competitiveness and Prosperity, Professor of Business Economics, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto.

Statistics Canada:

Beiling Yan, Senior Research Economist, Economic Analysis Division;

John Baldwin, Special Advisor, Economic Analysis Division;

Danny Leung, Director, Economic Analysis Division;

Éric Boulay, Assistant Director, International Accounts and Trade Division.

The chair made an opening statement.

Ms. Lapham, Mr. Trefler, Ms. Yan and Mr. Baldwin made opening statements and, together with Mr. Leung and Mr. Boulay, answered questions.

At 11:55 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 11:57 a.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee resumed in camera to consider a draft report.

It was agreed that senators' staff be permitted to remain in the room while the committee met in camera.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, January 27, 2016, the committee continued its study on foreign relations and international trade generally. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 1.) (Topic: Prospects in relation to the situation in Venezuela.)

After debate, it was agreed:

That the report on the situation in Venezuela, as discussed and amended this day, be concurred in;

That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to approve the final version of the report with the changes discussed this day and with any necessary editorial, grammatical or translation changes required; and

That the chair be authorized to table the amended report in the Senate, at the earliest opportunity.

At 12:06 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Danielle Labonté

Clerk of the Committee