Foreign Affairs Committee on June 14th, 2006

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

This is a friendly amendment?

[Francine Lalonde, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Can we hear the friendly amendment? Then if we want some discussion on that, that's fine, but we'll hear the friendly amendment.

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Calgary East, AB]

Before I go on to that amendment, I agree with Madame Lalonde. A lot of things have happened; there have been talks going on. So taking into account that the intent of the main motion has not changed much, as Madame Lalonde has said, we send this message: In addition to the seventh report of May 17, 2005, the committee recommends the government give effect to this report and continue suspension of general budget support to Ethiopia, as did other donor countries.

The rest is fine, except I think Canada should continue giving aid to Eritrea.

[Francine Lalonde, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

Currently, very little aid is given to Eritrea. One per cent of the World Food Program comes from Canada. That's why I wrote this in my motion: "...suggests to government that it assist Eritrea, one of the poorest countries in the world."

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

All right.

[Francine Lalonde, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

That's good; I accept the expression "to assist more".

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

I'm going to ask our clerk to read the motion as amended, unless somebody else has...it would be nice to hear the motion first, as amended, and then if we want discussion....

[The Clerk of the Committee]

It reads:

That the Committee, in addition to the 7th report of May 17, 2005, recommends that the Government gives effect to this report and continue suspension of general budget support to Ethiopia, as did other donor countries like Great Britain, until the political situation improves to the satisfaction of the UN Security Council; and, suggests to government that it continue to assist—

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Calgary East, AB]

If you want “continue”, it's fine.

[A voice]

That it “further” assist....

[The Clerk]

“Further” assist? Okay.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Does anyone else have anything on this motion?

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

That concludes the motions. Let's move into the second report of the subcommittee on agenda and procedure. We have the report from the steering committee.

I don't think there's any need to go in camera on this, is there? Do you have a copy of your report there?

Your subcommittee met on Tuesday, June 13, to consider the business of the committee and agreed to make the following recommendations.

1. That representatives of Oxfam Quebec be invited to appear before this committee on Tuesday, June 20, 2006.

They will be here on Tuesday, June 20.

2. That representatives of Rights and Democracy be invited to appear before the committee in relation to the study on Haiti, on Tuesday, June 20, 2006.

They are unable to attend at that time. They're meeting with the minister then.

3. That Robert Greenhill, president of CIDA, be invited to appear before the committee on June 21, 2006, from 3:30 to 4:30.

He was with the minister the last time, but some felt it might be beneficial to have him return.

4. That the committee meet to discuss future business on June 21, 2006, from 4:30 to 5:30.

5. That the committee refer requests to appear before the committee from Falun Gong and the Vietnamese Canadian Federation to the Subcommittee on International Human Rights.

6. That the clerk of the committee be authorized to distribute the previous committee's report on HIV/AIDS from 2004 to all committee members.

7. That within the outlines of a future study on democratic development, the clerk, in consultation with the chair, prepare draft budgets on behalf of the committee respecting the committee's proposed travel to the United States and to Europe, and that the chair be authorized to present the said budget to the budget committee of the Liaison Committee.

I want to ask those who were part of the steering committee, does this fairly satisfy their understanding of the report from the steering committee?

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, York—Simcoe, ON]

I think it's fair. I was just going to ask the clerk or the researcher to ensure that in advance of Mr. Greenhill's appearance we get a copy of the report—

[A voice]

It's coming. I think it's still in—

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, York—Simcoe, ON]

Is it still being translated?

It's so that everybody has a copy of that old CIDA report and also that Mr. Greenhill knows this is one of the things we're hoping he'll talk about.

[A voice]

[Inaudible--Editor]

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, York—Simcoe, ON]

Okay. That wasn't reflected here. It doesn't need to be reflected here, but I wanted to make sure it was happening.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Madame Lalonde.

[Francine Lalonde, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

As regards the second point, which concerns Rights and Democracy, we said that the work that had been done was truly remarkable. Can they really not send someone, since there are a number of them?

[The Clerk]

When I contacted them, they told me they had a meeting with the minister.

[Francine Lalonde, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

Is it being held at the same time?

[The Clerk]

It will be held from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. They can't change the time.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Madame Lalonde was leaving for the Wednesday, so I don't know....