Evidence of meeting #25 for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was honduras.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
I believe it has been distributed, but we may decide as a committee that we don't want to deal with it now anyway. I'm going to give them the floor just to see what direction they're hoping to go in.
Madame Deschamps.
12:15 p.m.
Bloc
Johanne Deschamps Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC
Mr. Chair, If I understand this correctly, based on the information I received, if I have the support of the majority, I can introduce my motion this morning.
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
I believe it has been 48 hours that the committee has had the motion. Because we're on other business, you can bring it up. We will have to discuss the question of whether the committee wants to deal with it right now, but go ahead.
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB
Do I understand from you, then, that a 48-hour notice requirement has been met?
12:15 p.m.
Bloc
Johanne Deschamps Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC
Do I have your blessing, Deepak? May I speak to my motion now?
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
Jim Abbott Conservative Kootenay—Columbia, BC
Mr. Chair, my understanding is that it was introduced at 9:30 yesterday morning. We received it at 9:30 yesterday morning. That is not 48 hours.
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Okay. All right, thank you very much. That is clarified.
So we would need unanimous consent, then, to proceed.
Do I have unanimous consent?
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Okay.
I apologize for that. We don't have unanimous consent to move forward on that.
Is there any other new business?
Mr. Rae.
12:15 p.m.
Liberal
Bob Rae Liberal Toronto Centre, ON
Are we going to have an informal discussion about where we're going or what we're going to do or some issues we might want to look at?
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB
I was of the opinion that when we come back, when we have the steering committee after the summer, we can decide what to do, where we're going. We don't have much to do before.
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Yes, that was my thought process, that when we get back we'll meet with the steering committee to make some suggestions, and then we can go from there.
12:15 p.m.
Liberal
12:15 p.m.
NDP
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
Just on that note, Chair, I think we actually were able to do some good work in the last couple of months. I would like to see us return to that format of having a discussion about what our agenda is, when we come back, so we can set the course for the committee. The House is back on the 23rd or something, I believe. Maybe you, as chair, wouldn't mind contacting people around that time or before that time just to solicit ideas and have a meeting before we actually formally get back, if that's possible.
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Yes. I think my suggestion will be that when we get back that first week I'll call a meeting of the subcommittee to look at some of the things. I know there's a number of good ideas that could be on the table.
Dr. Patry.
12:15 p.m.
Liberal
Bernard Patry Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
Yes, but if we're waiting for some time in September to meet, we're not going to start any study before October or November.
If we can agree through e-mails what we'd like to do, in a certain sense we could have the analyst work a little bit at it--not full-time, but it's easier during the summertime, because they have a couple of months to come up with something.
12:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Sure, definitely, and if we have some ideas for the clerk, we definitely could do that.
12:20 p.m.
Liberal
Bernard Patry Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
We could do it through e-mails and say we agree on this.
12:20 p.m.
Conservative
Peter Goldring Conservative Edmonton East, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Am I to understand that decisions will be made on what will be given priority on the agenda? If I have the opportunity, I'd like to certainly put a pitch forward to the motion I just put in. Understandably, because of the circumstances and the ongoing situation of Haiti, I really think it should be a priority to have that up early on the agenda in the fall. There may be some planning commitments and requirements to be able to plan ahead for the fall agenda to action this.
12:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Sure.
Just for those who may not know, the motion Mr. Goldring is talking about is a trip to Haiti to look at what's been going on after the earthquake.