Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Banking, Trade and
Commerce
Issue 6 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Tuesday, December 2, 1997
(10)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce met this day at 9:35 a.m. in Room 505, Victoria Building, the Chairman, the Honourable Michael Kirby, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Angus, Austin, P.C., Callbeck, Kirby, Kelleher, P.C., Meighen, Oliver, Stewart and Tkachuk (9).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Bolduc, Kenny and Whelan (3).
In attendance: From the Parliamentary Research Branch, Library of Parliament, Mr. Gerald Goldstein, Director, Economics Division.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
WITNESSES:
From the Department of Finance:
Mr. Terry Collins-Williams, Director, International Trade Policy Section;
Mr. Gilles Le Blanc, Senior Chief;
Mr. Fraser Laschinger, Coordinator, Simplified Tariff; and
Ms Christine Wiecek, Officer.
From the Department of Revenue Canada:
Ms Candace Breakwell, Director, Tariff Simplification, Trade Policy and Interpretations Directorate.
From the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association:
Mr. David Adams, Director, Policy Development;
Mr. Othmar Stein, Vice-President, Public Affairs, Chrysler Canada Ltd;
Mr. Michael Sheridan, Director, Government Relations, Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited; and
Ms Faye Roberts, Senior Policy Advisor, Trade, General Motors of Canada Limited.
From the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association:
Mr. Ken MacDonald, Director, Policy Development.
From the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association of Canada:
Mr. David Worts, Executive Director;
Mr. Vaughn Hibbits, Vice-President, Administration, Honda of Canada Manufacturing; and
Mr. Adriaan Korstanje, General Manager, Toyota Manufacturing Canada Inc.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, November 26, 1997, the committee proceeded to study Bill C-11, An Act respecting the imposition of duties of customs and other charges, to give effect to the International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, to provide relief against the imposition of certain duties of customs or other charges, to provide for other related matters and to amend or repeal certain Acts in consequence thereof.
Mr. Collins-Williams made an opening statement and, along with Mr. Le Blanc and Ms Wiecek, answered questions.
Mr. Adams made an opening statement and, along with Messrs Stein and Sheridan, answered questions.
Mr. MacDonald made an opening statement and answered questions.
Messrs Worts, Hibbits and Korstanje made opening statements and answered questions.
At 11:45 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, December 4, 1997
(11)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce met this day at 11:10 a.m. in Room 505, Victoria Building, the Chairman, the Honourable Michael Kirby, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Angus, Austin, P.C., Callbeck, Kelleher, P.C., Kenny, Ferretti Barth, Kirby, Meighen, Poulin, St. Germain, P.C., Stewart and Tkachuk (12).
In attendance: From the Parliamentary Research Branch, Library of Parliament, Mr. Gerald Goldstein, Director, Economics Division and Ms Margaret Smith, Research Officer, Law and Government Division.
APPEARING:
The Honourable Jim Peterson, P.C., M.P., Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions).
WITNESSES:
From Carleton University's Centre for Trade Policy and Law:
Professor Michael Hart, Norman Patterson School.
From the Canadian Steel Producers Association:
Ms Jean Van Loon, President; and
Mr. Denis Martin, Manager, Trade Relations and Market Data, Dofasco Inc.
From the Department of Finance:
Mr. Terry Collins-Williams, Director; and
Mr. Gilles Le Blanc, Senior Chief.
From Industry Canada:
Mr. Slawek Skorupinski, Director General, Automotive Branch.
From Customs Excise Union:
Mr. Ronny Moran, National President;
Ms Karen Dwyer, National Vice-President, Prairies and National Capital Region; and
Mr. George Scott, National Vice-President, Pacific.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, November 27, 1997, the committee continued its study of Bill C-11, An Act respecting the imposition of duties of customs and other charges, to give effect to the International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, to provide relief against the imposition of certain duties of customs or other charges, to provide for other related matters and to amend or repeal certain Acts in consequence thereof.
Professor Hart made an opening statement and then answered questions.
Ms Van Loon made an opening statement and then, along with Mr. Martin, answered questions.
Mr. Peterson made an opening statement and then, along with Messrs Skorupinski and Collins-Williams, answered questions.
Mr. Moran made an opening statement and then, along with Ms Dwyer and Mr. Scott, answered questions.
Senator Kelleher stated that he had a conflict of interest in this matter.
It was agreed, -- That the brief submitted on Bill C-11 by the Customs Excise Union be printed as an appendix to this day's Minutes of Proceedings (see Appendix 5900 B1/C-11, 6 "1").
It was agreed, -- That Bill C-11 be adopted and reported to the Senate without amendment.
At 1:10 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Paul Benoit
Clerk of the Committee