✔︎ Bill C-57, Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, 2023

Bill

Bill C-57, An Act to implement the 2023 Free Trade Agreement between Canada and Ukraine

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

On September 22nd, 2023, Prime Minister Trudeau and President Zelenskyy signed the modernized Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA), which supports long-term security, stability, and economic development in Ukraine, while also ensuring high-quality market access terms for Canadian businesses participating in Ukraine’s economic recovery. This will create good, middle-class jobs in both of our countries.

Passed.

Bill Status

At third reading in the Senate

✔︎ Bill C-282 (Supply Management)

Bill

Bill C-282, An Act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act (supply management)

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

Supporting this bill would harden public commitments to not provide any new market access for supply-managed products in future trade agreements by making it into law. Bill C-282 is aligned with the commitment. The Government is fully committed to defending the integrity of supply management, while also continuing to pursue the ambitious trade agenda on which economic recovery depends.

Passed.

Bill Status

At second reading in the Senate

✔︎ C-100 (Canada-US-Mexico Agreement)

Bill

C-100: An Act to implement the Agreement between Canada, the United States of America and the United Mexican States.

Second Reading.

Vote

Yea.

rationale

On November 30, 2018, Canada, the United States, and Mexico signed an agreement to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement. This new agreement will reinforce the strong economic ties between the three countries and support well-paying middle-class jobs for Canadians. 

CUSMA will maintain the tariff-free market access from NAFTA and includes updates and new chapters to address modern-day trade challenges and opportunities. Since negotiations began in August 2017, Canada engaged constructively and pragmatically with our NAFTA partners to achieve a good deal for Canadians. The agreement provides key outcomes for Canadian businesses, workers and communities in areas such as labour, environment, automotive trade, dispute resolution, culture, energy, and agriculture and agrifood. Importantly, CUSMA also includes language on gender and Indigenous peoples’ rights.

Result

Passed.

✘ C-101 (Reasoned Amendment)

Bill

C-101: An Act to amend the Customs Tariff and the Canadian International Trade Tribunal Act (Reasoned Amendment).

Second reading.

Vote

Nay.

Rationale

Given present distortions in the global market, Canada needs flexibility to take necessary actions to protect Canadian industry and workers. The proposed amendments to the Customs Tariff do exactly that, by removing the two-year moratorium on the imposition of safeguard measures on products that were recently subject to safeguards. These amendments would provide additional flexibility to the Government to respond quickly and appropriately to situations where a substantiated surge of imports harms, or could harm, Canadian producers and workers. These amendments are intended to be temporary - the Government is proposing that the amendments be only in effect for a period of 2 years. There are also consequential amendments necessary to the Canadian International Trade Tribunal Act. The Government continues to monitor steel imports and their impacts on the Canadian steel industry closely. The conditions for the application of safeguards, as provided for under the Canadian International Trade Tribunal Act and the Customs Tariff, remain unchanged and still need to be met in order for any safeguard measure to be put in place.

Result

Defeated.

✔︎ C-85 (Canada-Isreal Free Trade Agreement)

Bill

C-281: An Act to establish a National Local Food Day.

Second reading.

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

I voted in favour of Bill C-85 because a modernized CIFTA will improve access to the Israeli market for Canadian companies through further elimination and reduction of tariffs on agricultural and fisheries products.

Result

Passed.

✔︎ C-79 (Trans Pacific Partnership)

Bill

C-79: An Act to implement the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership between Canada, Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

Third reading.

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

C-79 makes all legislative changes required to ratify CPTPP. The CPTPP will benefit a wide range of sectors and industries across Canada, from beef and barley to forestry products and seafood. From making our machinery, equipment and business services more competitive, to protecting and preserving our unique culture, we are improving market access for Canadian business and have secured a better deal for Canadians.

Result

Passed.

✔︎ C-30 (CETA)

Bill

C-30: An Act to implement the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the European Union and its Member States and to provide for certain other measures.

Second Reading.

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

All 28 EU Member States approved the conclusion of CETA and have signed the agreement. The next step in the EU’s approval process will be a vote in the European Parliament, following which CETA will enter into force. A vote in the European Parliament is expected in December. All EU Member States will also need to approve the agreement before it can be fully brought into force. CETA is a top priority for Canada. We are working with our partners in Europe to ensure implementation next year. CETA will deliver positive results and opportunities for citizens in the EU and Canada.

Result

Passed.