Evidence of meeting #1 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 patry.
3:35 p.m.
The Clerk
I prepared two lists of motions. One is on the standardized motions, and one is on the motions the committee had in the last Parliament, entitled section 9.
The routine motions printed here are identical to the ones adopted by the committee during the last Parliament. No changes have been made.
The committee doesn't need to create a subcommittee on international trade because there is a standing committee on international trade. It may want to decide about the subcommittee on human rights.
May 4th, 2006 / 3:40 p.m.
Liberal
Alan Tonks Liberal York South—Weston, ON
If they're the same to that extent and there's consensus of the committee, I'd move the routine motions, one to ten inclusive, with the amendments.
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
It's going to take a chiropractor to get my head back on that side, but I'm very pleased to look at this side and see you folks.
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB
Thank you.
There are some motions in here that are very easy to do, like the subcommittee on agenda. I think those are the ones we should do right now. The other ones, like questioning of witnesses, order of motions, and changing the time to Wednesday, will require a little more thinking right now. So we can put those ones for Tuesday. Ones like the subcommittee on agenda and procedure, and research officers, we can do right now. They're not very difficult.
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
There is no motion to change to Wednesday. The motions here are standardized motions that come before these committees. The only thing that could possibly take some discussion would be the time given to witnesses, which we have allocated as ten minutes, and the time given to members, which is five minutes in the round. That's the same as in other years. I know other committees have got worked up about those kinds of regulations or times, but I think we could pass all these motions, if it's the will of the committee.
3:40 p.m.
The Clerk
Actually, one to thirteen....
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
If you're unsure what these are, the first one deals with research officers--that brings Gerry and Jim.
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
Bernard Patry Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
Mr. Chair, with your permission, I move that we deal with items one to thirteen--no problems.
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
The seconder is Mr. Van Loan.
(Motion agreed to) [See Minutes of Proceedings]
3:40 p.m.
NDP
Alexa McDonough NDP Halifax, NS
I'm not sure if there is specific intent to not deal with 14, but it seems to me it's also quite straightforward for us to move it, recognizing that we're deleting 15 because of the new organization. I think it's very important for us to clearly establish that human rights and international development will be a subcommittee of this committee and not of the international trade committee.
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
This motion would say that we have to strike that committee right now or when the need arises.
3:40 p.m.
The Clerk
It's however the committee wants to do it.
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
We've already passed motions one to thirteen. Once the House or the committee decides we need to strike this committee, it will just take a motion at that time.
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
Bernard Patry Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
I agree with Ms. McDonough that we should create a subcommittee on human rights and international development. It has been in existence for thirteen years--since I've been here. I think it's a must and there's no reason not to do it.
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
That is our point. Our point is that this committee is no longer foreign affairs and international trade; this committee is foreign affairs and international development. To say we're going to create a subcommittee on international development and human rights--it's part and parcel. In fact, it might even diminish the work of this standing committee.
This standing committee's responsibility is international development. Unless there's something very specific to international development that we don't want to study, we would have to strike a committee. My suggestion is if that issue comes up, let's strike that committee then.
Madam Lalonde.
3:40 p.m.
Bloc
Francine Lalonde Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
Conversely, Mr. Chairman, often some rather pressing conflicts have arisen in the course of our work where human rights have been called into question. In such instances, it was useful to have subcommittee.
A subcommittee on human rights would be required to report back to the committee. This would allow us to deal with important questions at the same time.That might even be desirable in the case of certain development issues.
In any event, it all comes back to the committee, even though the subcommittee prepares the work. Generally speaking, we assign the work to the subcommittee, although it can take the initiative to do a study.
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
Bernard Patry Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
Mr. Chair, I agree with Madame Lalonde. We have always had, as I mentioned, a human rights committee. There may come certain circumstances, and the population will not accept that we don't have a human rights committee. And we cannot wait to have a problem emerging to have a committee, to wait until then to form a committee. Before they do it they need to get a clerk, they need to get prepared. I think we're just passing the motion, and we'll see if we need it after yes or no. But I think we can pass it now, and I move so.
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
Peter Van Loan Conservative York—Simcoe, ON
I would say, if you look at the wording, the motion is very interesting, because it means that we get all kinds of Conservatives and no Liberals on the committee. So it's not a bad wording right now; I'm not going to object, but I'm not sure you wish to move it.
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Yes, this is the same motion from the last Parliament, and that's why the motion would have to be changed.