Evidence of meeting #1 for Special Committee on the Canadian Mission in Afghanistan in the 39th Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was going.
A recording is available from Parliament.
The Clerk of the Committee Mrs. Angela Crandall
Honourable members of the committee, order.
I see a quorum.
We can now proceed to the election of the chair.
I am ready to receive motions for the election of the Chair.
The Clerk
Are there any other nominations?
The question before the committee is that Mr. Lemieux be elected chair of the committee. Is everyone agreed?
The Clerk
The order of the House creating this committee says that there will be three vice-chairs, one from each opposition party. I'm now ready to receive motions for the first vice-chair.
Mr. Rae.
Liberal
Bob Rae Liberal Toronto Centre, ON
Do you want to tell him about it? I'm not going to tell him. I don't have the heart to tell him.
The Clerk
Are there any other nominations?
The question before the committee is that Mr. Bryon Wilfert be elected the first vice-chair for the official opposition. Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
The Clerk
Are there any other nominations?
The motion before the committee is that Madame Vivian Barbot be elected second vice-chair of the committee. All in favour?
The Clerk
Are there any other nominations?
The motion before the committee is that Ms. Dawn Black be third vice-chair. All in favour?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Pierre Lemieux
First of all, colleagues, thank you for the great honour in electing me as chair of this committee. I certainly look forward to being your chair and to the good work the committee will do.
I would like to just highlight a few things. The first is with regard to the Manley report. One of the important statements in the Manley report is that the panel is convinced that the Canadian objectives in Afghanistan are both honourable and achievable. I believe we all believe that, as parliamentarians, particularly given the debate we've had in the House.
I'd also like to refresh our memories regarding the passed motion that had an influence over bringing this committee together. The particular paragraph reads as follows:
that, the special parliamentary committee on Afghanistan should review the laws and procedures governing the use of operational and national security exceptions for the withholding of information from Parliament, the Courts and the Canadian people with those responsible for administering those laws and procedures, to ensure that Canadians are being provided with ample information on the conduct and progress of the mission;
This is in keeping, I think, with another recommendation that was made by the Manley panel; namely, that the government and Parliament foster open and positive communication, both within Parliament and with the Canadian people.
Just before we move on, I'll give you a little bit of my own history. I served in the military for 20 years. I joined at the young age of 17. I served in the Canadian army in the branch of the electrical-mechanical engineers for 20 years. It was a great honour to serve in our Canadian Forces, and again, it's a great honour to be your chair with that sort of experience.
We have just convened the first official meeting of the Special Committee on the Canadian Mission in Afghanistan. Before we tackle the routine motions, why don't we settle on when would be the most convenient times for us to meet as a committee. We can perhaps also settle on the regularity with which we will meet as a committee.
I will open the floor to my colleagues to discuss this particular matter.
Mr. Obhrai.
Conservative
