Evidence of meeting #26 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 chair.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Mrs. Carmen DePape

3:30 p.m.

The Clerk of the Committee Mrs. Carmen DePape

Members of the committee, I see a quorum.

We can now proceed with the election of the chair. I am ready to receive motions to that effect.

3:30 p.m.

Liberal

Bernard Patry Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC

I would like to nominate Mr. Allison.

3:30 p.m.

The Clerk

It has been moved by Dr. Patry that Mr. Allison be elected as chair of the committee.

Are there further motions?

Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

(Motion agreed to)

I declare the motion carried and Mr. Allison elected chair of the committee.

Before inviting him to come forward, if the committee wishes, we will now proceed to the election of the vice-chairs.

Mr. Goldring.

3:30 p.m.

Conservative

Peter Goldring Conservative Edmonton East, AB

I wish to nominate Dr. Patry for vice-chair.

3:30 p.m.

The Clerk

It has been moved by Mr. Goldring that Dr. Patry be elected first vice-chair of the committee.

Are there further nominations?

(Motion agreed to)

I declare the motion carried and Dr. Patry duly elected as first vice-chair of the committee.

I am now ready to receive nominations for the position of second vice-chair.

Yes, Ms. Deschamps, the floor is yours.

3:30 p.m.

Bloc

Johanne Deschamps Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC

I would like to nominate Mr. Jean Dorion.

3:30 p.m.

The Clerk

Okay. Are there any further motions?

Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

(Motion agreed to)

I declare the motion carried and Mr. Dorion duly elected as second vice-chair of the committee.

I now invite Mr. Allison to take the chair.

3:30 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear!

3:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

I want to seek direction from the committee on what we want to do.

Madam Deschamps was talking about the possibility of having a women's group from Sudan here, which I think we're all aware of. We were thinking of possibly having them come on Thursday, since we didn't have any other orders of business. Would it be okay to invite them for Thursday?

Okay, so we'll do that now.

We have a couple of options. We can either have a steering committee meeting on Thursday, or at another time. We can meet after this meeting for a bit.

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

Bernard Patry Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC

Can we have it before Thursday or in the morning?

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

We can do it right now if you like.

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

Bernard Patry Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC

But I don't have my papers. I didn't know.

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

We can do whatever we want. The other option is to meet in the morning on Thursday. I'll put that to you.

Madam Deschamps is next, and then Mr. Dewar.

3:35 p.m.

Bloc

Johanne Deschamps Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC

Mr. Chair, you have answered my question. Given that Mr. Dorion is not here today and that he will be on the steering committee, I would like him to have a little more time to...

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

Bernard Patry Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC

We can discuss it between our groups. There's no doubt about what we'd like to do. It's not a big expansion of the study--but to meet some of the people. We can discuss it if we have 15 or 20 minutes.

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

So why don't I put the question? We can do a steering meeting before or after the meeting. We can meet with the women of Sudan. We can meet either before or after that in the same timeframe. We could maybe meet from 3:30 to 4:30, and then 4:30...or vice versa.

I'm taking names, so go ahead, Jim.

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

Jim Abbott Conservative Kootenay—Columbia, BC

My suggestion is that we meet after. You or the clerk will have to arrange for some simultaneous translation if we meet before. If we meet after the meeting we've agreed to, then the translation will all be here.

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

So you suggest it be either the hour before or the hour after--either 3:30 or 4:30.

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

Jim Abbott Conservative Kootenay—Columbia, BC

Yes, as opposed to a separate morning.

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

That makes sense, and I think we can set it up.

Paul.

3:35 p.m.

NDP

Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON

Just to complicate matters, I'm not going to be here on Thursday at that time, but I am available Thursday morning. There's a huge event here that Mr. Baird and others from the Ottawa area will be attending. It's the unveiling of the Chinese gates, which is a massive event. I just can't be here.

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

So you're not going to be here for our meeting on Thursday at all?

3:35 p.m.

NDP

Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON

No. I am available in the morning, and now.

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

So we'll look at trying to do it in the morning, and we can go from there.

Is there any other business or discussion?

Madam Deschamps.

3:35 p.m.

Bloc

Johanne Deschamps Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC

Perhaps Ms. DePape could tell us about Thursday's meeting. Will this meeting with the witness take place as part of a formal meeting of the committee?