Evidence of meeting #34 for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was reasonable.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Ms. Angela Crandall

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

We'll call this meeting back to order now. Our intention is to have a 5:30 close.

On May 13 we were dealing with Mr. Dewar's motion.

Continue, Mr. Dewar.

5:20 p.m.

NDP

Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will be brief.

Since we met last, there has been a change in portfolio for Foreign Affairs. Mr. Emerson is the minister responsible now. We had an opportunity to question Mr. Emerson in the committee of the whole recently and asked a question on the issue of the government's response. He did say they would be forthcoming.

I guess I would just ask that this committee pass this motion to support the government in carrying on with what has been a report that has been promised as a response. It has been over 450 days. It was more than a year ago that the government said it would respond soon.

I think Canadians want to know where this government stands on the report, a groundbreaking report on corporate social responsibility. Both industry and civil society worked very hard on this. I think they should be given a response, and this committee providing this motion to Parliament will not only support those people who worked on this report but also move the file ahead and support the minister in being able to report to Parliament.

So I would ask that members vote on this right now, that we put the vote to the committee so that we can then carry on with other motions, because I know there are many that this committee wants to deal with.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

Thank you, Mr. Dewar.

Mr. Obhrai, this is motion one. That's the motion we were discussing at the close of the day.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB

This is the motion that talks about the advisory group report on the national round tables. The motion calls specifically for the government to “adopt” the recommendations. It's giving the direction to the government to adopt the recommendations.

The government has to respond to what the round tables have recommended and which recommendations it accepts and which it doesn't. The government's response will be forthcoming, as Mr. Dewar requested of Minister Emerson during the committee of the whole. The minister committed to saying that the government would respond to the recommendations.

It's understandable that a fourth party that has never been in government wouldn't understand how governments operate. It has to go through—

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

Bob Rae Liberal Toronto Centre, ON

We understand how governments operate: slowly.

5:20 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB

Well, I'm talking about the fourth party.

You have to look at all the recommendations, what will have impact on other laws, what will have impact on other situations, what will have impact on other government policies, and what are the impacts on the government's direction. Hence, it needs the appropriate time to study and analyze these things.

The problem with this motion is that it's asking for an adoption of the recommendations. It is not asking for the government's response. If it were asking for the government's response, we wouldn't have any problem in responding, because the government has said, yes, it will respond. But this is an NDP answer to a report by stating its position, which is to adopt the recommendations.

This may not be the government's position. It may adopt a lot of the recommendations that come forward, but it may not adopt certain other recommendations.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

Okay—

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB

What do you mean “Okay”? Let me talk.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

I'm going to ask you a question. Are you saying here that if this had been to have him appear and give us a response to the round tables—

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB

No, no, I'm not saying that.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

But you're saying that this says “adopt” them.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB

This one is saying “adopt” them. What has happened is that this round table conference--which was, by the way, called by the government--

5:20 p.m.

NDP

Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON

Can I clarify something?

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

Only if it's on a point of order.

5:20 p.m.

NDP

Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON

It is.

This is not a typical report, if you will. This was a consensus report. It's one of those reports that have been put in front of the government to adopt or not.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB

No, it has not been put in front of the government to adopt it. It has been put in front of the government for the government to respond to the recommendations so they have time to change it. While it is true that this was a unanimous recommendation, this was a round table conference called by the government to address this issue. But that does not mean that every recommendation has to be accepted. The government needs to study and see how those recommendations come out of the whole thing and impact other laws.

Therefore, again, it's difficult for us to adopt this motion. It's an NDP position that says adopt these recommendations, period, and then table it in Parliament.

Well, excuse me; first let the government give its response, which it will table in Parliament. Then we can discuss and say whether we agree or disagree. The problem with this one here is that it's the NDP telling us what to do. Telling the government, on the one hand, what to do....

I do have the floor, and when I have the floor let me talk.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

Continue, Mr. Obhrai.

Let's give him the courtesy.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB

When you have the floor, I don't talk.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

Mr. Obhrai, as I understand from your points, if this motion would have said a “government response” you might have been more apt to support it.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB

I would have been more apt to because the minister stated in the committee, to Paul during his question, that he would.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

Would you move an amendment, then, to the suggestion from the honourable member who put the motion forward? Would you move an amendment that the government present the government's response once it is finalized and approved?

5:25 p.m.

Conservative

Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB

Yes, because that is exactly what the minister stated, that the government will be responding and that we would like the government to respond to this report. Then the government will respond as quickly as possible within the due timeframe. That amendment is fine.

5:25 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson

So do you want to move your amendment?

5:25 p.m.

Conservative

Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB

Mr. Dewar, are you ready for an amendment?