Foreign Affairs Committee on Dec. 13th, 2006

Evidence of meeting #37 for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was finance.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Bill C-293, An Act respecting the provision of development assistance abroad

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Gerald Schmitz Committee Researcher

James Lee Committee Researcher

Marc Toupin Procedural Clerk

4:45 p.m.

NDP

Alexa McDonough NDP Halifax, NS

Yes, there is a friendly amendment.

4:45 p.m.

Liberal

Bernard Patry Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC

You were talking about a friendly amendment. I have no clue what's going on.

4:45 p.m.

NDP

Alexa McDonough NDP Halifax, NS

There is a friendly amendment, which I accepted, except I can't read what you've written here.

4:45 p.m.

Liberal

John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON

Why don't I read it for you?

4:45 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

He wasn't always a lawyer; he started as a doctor.

4:45 p.m.

NDP

Alexa McDonough NDP Halifax, NS

It sounded good when he said it, but I can't read it.

4:45 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

That's why you can't read it.

4:45 p.m.

Liberal

John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON

It was written by Keith Martin, so nobody can read it.

4:45 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

It's written on prescription paper.

4:45 p.m.

Liberal

John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON

“The criteria in subsection 4(1) shall not apply in respect of funding or other assistance that is provided for in the”--I'll give this to the clerk.

4:45 p.m.

Liberal

Bernard Patry Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC

Are we on clause 5 or 4?

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

We're on clause 5.

4:50 p.m.

Liberal

Bernard Patry Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC

What are we doing now?

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

We're having a friendly amendment to NDP-10.

4:50 p.m.

Liberal

Bernard Patry Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC

Is it on clause 5?

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

Yes, it's on clause 5. It's on clause 5, number 5. So instead of “this act does not”, it would say “the criteria in subsection 4(1) shall not apply”.

4:50 p.m.

Liberal

Bernard Patry Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC

Let me think about that--“the criteria of”—

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

“The criteria in subsection 4(1) shall not apply in respect of funding or other assistance that is provided for the”....

Mr. Menzies.

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

Ted Menzies Conservative Macleod, AB

I'm still wondering about clarification here, but we'll probably accept it.

4:50 p.m.

NDP

Alexa McDonough NDP Halifax, NS

Question.

December 13th, 2006 / 4:50 p.m.

Conservative

Ted Menzies Conservative Macleod, AB

I understand where this came from, and it wasn't from you. We realize that, Mr. McKay. So don't give yourself any more credit than you deserve.

4:50 p.m.

Liberal

Keith Martin Liberal Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC

Perhaps we should read the whole thing out for the benefit of Dr. Patry.

4:50 p.m.

Liberal

Bernard Patry Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC

No, I just want to understand what this friendly amendment is.

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

The friendly amendment—not the complete amendment, but the friendly amendment—would then read, “(5) the criteria in subsection 4(1) shall not apply in respect of funding or other assistance that is provided for the”.

4:50 p.m.

Committee Researcher

Gerald Schmitz

It exempts emergency assistance from the—