| Type of parliamentary body |
Specialized |
| Nature |
Temporary |
| Related to chambers |
House of Commons
|
| Date of creation |
1995 |
| Last renewal date |
|
| Mandate |
The Standing Orders provide that Standing Committees have the power to delegate their powers to subcommittees, except the powers to report directly to the House. The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade has, with each new session of Parliament since 1995, created a Subcommittee to deal with matters related to international trade.
The mandate for the Subcommittee is as follows: to inquire into Canada's trade and investment relations and in particular any matters pertaining to the negotiation and implementation of international agreements as may be referred to it by the Committee. In practical terms, therefore, the Subcommittee may review any topic of interest to its members in the areas of international trade and investment, including multilateral (e.g. WTO) and bilateral trade negotiations.
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| Membership |
The membership of the Subcommittee is established by its parent Committee at the time of its creation and generally reflects the proportions of the various recognized parties in the House. Currently, the Subcommittee is composed of seven members of whom three are government members, two are from the official opposition, and one each from the two other officially recognized parties in the House (Bloc Québécois and New Democratic Party). The members are named following consultations with the whips. The Chair of the Subcommittee is elected. |
| Working methods |
Agenda topics are provided to the Subcommittee by the individual members, with the agenda being determined at a Future Business meeting. The Subcommittee's meetings are usually open to the public, except those involving future business, report consideration and any other decisions that have to be made by the members.
On any given topic, the Subcommittee typically organized hearings with government officials (including senior Canadian negotiators at the WTO) and a host of other witnesses.
Information is obtained from witnesses and a report is usually produced and made public. However, unlike its parent Committee, the Subcommittee does not have the power to report directly to the House. It must report to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade; this Committee will then consider the Subcommittee's report and, if it wishes, adopt it and report to the House.
As is the case with its parent Committee, the Subcommittee publishes on the House of Commons website (www.parl.gc.ca) "Minutes of Proceedings", the official record of what it has done, and "Evidence", the transcribed, edited and corrected record of what was said in the Subcommittee. All publications are prepared in both official languages.
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| Relations with other parliamentary bodies |
The Subcommittee is a subordinate committee of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and must be established every time there is a new parliamentary session. Although the Committee has chosen to delegate most of its powers to the Subcommittee, which allows it to act independently of its parent Committee, it must submit its report to the full Committee which alone is empowered to report to the House of Commons. The Subcommittee may also be instructed by the Standing Committee to carry out certain studies and legislative reviews. |
| Relations with external bodies |
The Subcommittee relates to Parliament through its parent Standing Committee. The recommendations contained in the Subcommittee's report are intended for the government's attention and, when so requested by the Committee, the government is bound by the Standing Orders to provide a comprehensive response to the report and its recommendations. In the preparation of its reports, the Subcommittee relies on the testimony of civil society on the issues under consideration. Subcommittee members are included in the membership of the national delegations to WTO Ministerial Conferences. |
| Subjects dealt with |
The Subcommittee has conducted a study on the WTO trade negotiations, on potential regional trade agreements (e.g. FTAA), and has been involved in the review of legislation implementing trade agreements.
Recently, Subcommittee studies have focused on Canada's relations with emerging markets, NAFTA dispute settlement, Canada's trade and investment relationship with the Americas, and its commercial interaction with Europe.
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| CONTACT INFORMATION |
|
PRESIDING OFFICER(S)
|
| Name |
Mr. John Cannis |
| Notes |
Chairman of the House of Commons Subcommittee on International Trade, Trade Dispute and Investment |
| Address (if different from above) |
Room 546-S, Centre Block, House of Commons |
| Phone |
+613 992 6823 |
| Fax |
+613 943 1045 |
| E-mail |
cannis.j@parl.gc.ca |
| Website |
|
| Name |
Mr. Ted Menzies |
| Notes |
Vice-Chair of the House of Commons Subcommittee on International Trade, Trade Dispute and Investment |
| Address (if different from above) |
Room 362, Centre Block, House of Commons |
| Phone |
+613 995 8471 |
| Fax |
+613 996 9770 |
| E-mail |
menzies.t@parl.gc.ca |
| Website |
|
|
SECRETARY
|
| Name |
Mr. Eugene Morawski |
| Notes |
Clerk of the House of Commons Subcommittee on International Trade, Trade Dispute and Investment |
| Address (if different from above) |
180 Wellington, Room 609 |
| Phone |
+613 992 5023 |
| Fax |
+613 996 1626 |
| E-mail |
morawe@parl.gc.ca |
| web site: |
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| Notes |
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