Afghanistan Committee on March 17th, 2010

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Well, I think the problem, as I understand Mr. Abbott, and perhaps Mr. Hawn, is this condition that the committee first complete its study of the transfer of Afghan detainees. That would prevent us from moving into this study until we have completed the other study. We've already passed the motion that we would study the detainee issue. If that “begin without delay to” were dropped, it would not be the government's intent not to have the detainee issue discussed.

Mr. Harris, then Mr. Dosanjh.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I think there should be some flexibility. I have to say, with respect, there's a little gamesmanship going on today. For example, I don't like the last five words that were used. The last five words could be used if someone wanted to play games and say the committee has agreed this is of immediate concern and primary importance and let's get at it, even though the first phrase is gone. We're relying on you, Mr. Chair, to prevent that kind of thing from happening.

In good faith, I would accept those words if they weren't going to be used to try to hijack the committee on a particular day by saying that we've already agreed on this. I'm really glad that I had my motion on the table first and the chair is interpreting it as the priority of this committee. I think we're getting the impression, at least from Mr. Wilfert, that there should be some flexibility.

I don't have a problem if someone wants to give a briefing at some point. It may take us some time to finish the Afghanistan detainee issue, unless something breaks very quickly. We could be studying the Afghanistan detainee issue for quite some time. I don't think it means we should be precluded from hearing on this issue once or twice to get up to speed or in connection with some other activity of the committee. I don't think it needs to be so hard and fast that we can't talk about this unless we finish the Afghanistan detainee issue.

I think we've clearly indicated there's a priority on this. If those last five words are not going to be used to try to hijack the agenda of the committee, then I don't see a problem with being flexible. I hope I can get an undertaking from the government members on this

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Mr. Dosanjh, Mr. Abbott, and Mr. Hawn.

[Ujjal Dosanjh, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

It's my view that I don't think you can resolve it here. I now understand what's underneath or behind it.

If there are legitimate reasons and rationales for doing this, then the steering committee should have a quick meeting between now and Wednesday and bring the motion forward in a reworded fashion. We won't then have to spend half an hour or 45 minutes talking around the motion and not understanding what it's intended to do.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Mr. Abbott.

[Ujjal Dosanjh, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

I don't think you can have that discussion here.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

I have to go in order here, unless we have a motion to move in camera. That could solve everything.

Mr. Abbott.

[Jim Abbott, Conservative, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

I'd like to make this clear. I don't want Mr. Wilfert to be of the impression that I was implying what he was saying, which was we would do it in one meeting or whatever. I'm not implying any conditions. I don't have the authority to make those commitments, even if I wanted to.

The point is that in this case, we're starting to find some common ground here. I agree with Mr. Harris. If we have an opportunity during the course of the ongoing detainee situation to get to this, this would carry that out.

We have a good working relationship. I don't want to leave Mr. Wilfert with the wrong impression. I was not implying all of the things that he was attributing to it.

[Bryon Wilfert, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

I understand.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

This is good. We're starting to work together here. Let's take a deep breath.

Good for you, Mr. Wilfert and Mr. Abbott.

Mr. Hawn, can we continue in that spirit?

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Of course, Mr. Chair.

There are enough proposed changes in this that it probably is a good idea to discuss it in camera in subcommittee.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

All right. Unless you were moving that we go in camera, Mr. Patry is next.

Mr. Patry.

[Bernard Patry, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Mr. Chair, I'm going to read the following in French, because it is my mother tongue. The first two sentences read as follows: “Que le Comité commence sans délai à examiner et à étudier les préparatifs et les plans du Canada en vue du retrait [...]”

As I see it, before we look at the plans, perhaps we should ask the Department of National Defence and the Department of Foreign Affairs if in fact they do have plans. We should also ask when these plans might be available to the committee. Then, the committee could come to a decision.

We don't even know if there are plans for this right now. The draft says it's to investigate and study Canada's preparations and plans. I don't know if there are any plans for the withdrawal. I think we should ask the department about this.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Thank you, Mr. Patry.

Do we have a motion to move in camera?

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

We only have ten minutes, Mr. Chair. We need to go in camera for the other stuff we talked about.

[Ujjal Dosanjh, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

We can move to the steering committee.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

We're going to have to go in camera regardless, because we need to pass the steering committee report.

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

This is another issue for the steering committee.

[Bryon Wilfert, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

I move that we go in camera.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Mr. Wilfert moves that we go in camera.

(Motion agreed to)

[Proceedings continue in camera]