THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Wednesday, March 11, 2020
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[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met this day at 4:15 p.m., in room C128, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Leo Housakos, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Ataullahjan, Boehm, Bovey, Cordy, Coyle, Dawson, Dean, Greene, Housakos, MacDonald, Massicotte, Ngo and Saint-Germain (13).

Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Dalphond and Griffin (2).

In attendance: Brian Hermon, Simon Richards and Pascal Tremblay, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.

Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, February 20, 2020, the committee continued its consideration of the subject matter of Bill C-4, An Act to implement the Agreement between Canada, the United States of America and the United Mexican States.

WITNESSES:

Global Affairs Canada:

Steve Verheul, Chief Negotiator and Assistant Deputy Minister, Trade Policy and Negotiations;

Marie-France Paquet, Chief Economist;

Robert Brookfield, Director General and Deputy Legal Advisor, Trade Law;

Martin Thornell, Senior Advisor, Tariff and Goods Market Access;

Stephanie Chandler, Senior Advisor, Trade Policy and Negotiations;

Loris Mirella, Director, Intellectual Property Trade.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada:

Aaron Fowler, Chief Agriculture Negotiator and Director General.

Employment and Social Development Canada:

Pierre Bouchard, Director, Bilateral and Regional Labour Affairs.

Mr. Verheul and Ms. Paquet made a statement and, together with Messrs. Fowler, Mirella, Bouchard and Brookfield, answered questions.

At 6:17 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Gaëtane Lemay

Clerk of the Committee