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

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

I guess the question is the purpose of the friendly amendment. I almost liked it better as the original NDP motion.

4:50 p.m.

Liberal

Bernard Patry Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC

What is the difference?

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

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

That part I don't think we have fully understood. What is the difference between saying “this act does not apply in respect of”, and “the criteria in subsection 4(1) shall not apply”?

4:50 p.m.

Liberal

John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON

I am happy to withdraw the friendly amendment, but I thought I was actually helping out the government.

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

No, no. I'm just saying for myself—

4:50 p.m.

Liberal

John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON

I'm just trying to respond to their arguments. If they don't want it, it's fine by me.

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

Mr. Patry and then Mr. Menzies.

4:50 p.m.

Liberal

Bernard Patry Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC

If we just go for “the criteria of subsection 4(1) shall not apply”, it doesn't mean that the other criteria of the bill apply. I much prefer to say “this act does not apply”.

4:50 p.m.

Bloc

Diane Bourgeois Bloc Terrebonne—Blainville, QC

No friendly amendment.

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

Okay.

4:50 p.m.

Liberal

John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON

I'm not friendly then.

4:50 p.m.

NDP

Alexa McDonough NDP Halifax, NS

We're just trying to be responsive to the concerns raised, but if that's the general consensus, let's go back to the proposed amendment and call for the question.

4:50 p.m.

Liberal

Bernard Patry Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC

We agree? Okay.

4:50 p.m.

Liberal

John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON

That's fine. We won't be friendly any more.

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

Mr. Menzies, go ahead.

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

Ted Menzies Conservative Macleod, AB

We need a clarification. What are we suggesting here?

4:50 p.m.

Liberal

Bernard Patry Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC

Nothing.

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

Order, please.

I think what Mr. McKay has now suggested is that they would be willing to go with the friendly amendment, or they'd be willing to withdraw it, waiting and pending the government approval.

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

Ted Menzies Conservative Macleod, AB

What are we going to vote on?

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

What would you prefer?

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

Ted Menzies Conservative Macleod, AB

If we're going to talk about clause 4, we'd better talk about all of 4, or just leave it the way it is.

The suggestion was to put in that this act applies to subsection 4(1).

4:50 p.m.

Liberal

Bernard Patry Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC

I don't accept the friendly amendment. I think this act does not apply.

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

So he has withdrawn the friendly amendment?

4:50 p.m.

A voice

Yes.

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

Ted Menzies Conservative Macleod, AB

Okay. That's what I was trying to clarify, what we're voting on.