Evidence of meeting #32 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 oda.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
We do want to pass quickly our steering committee's report to it, so it should be a two- or three-minute committee business meeting.
Thank you again to the departments for being here. In all sincerity, to the foreign affairs department and the finance department, speaking on behalf of all the committee, we're very pleased that you're able to come today with your recommendations. Thank you.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
This basic report is a notice to the committee members that your subcommittee met on Thursday, November 23, to discuss committee business and agree to the following recommendations.
First of all, it was agreed that the committee discuss the draft report on Haiti during the second hour of the meeting on December 5, 2006. We are very close to completing our report. We want that report done before Christmas or asap. It may only take a maximum of one hour.
The second point is that it was agreed that the committee meet with various witnesses during the month of December on the study of democratic development, including John Williams, member of Parliament, and Kevin Deveaux, the MLA. This was a bit of a trade-off. These are two individuals who want to talk, one on the corruption side and the other I'm not certain on what side. Madam McDonough could give us more information. MLA Deveaux has a lot of experience with democratic development and development assistance and such. Those two are a bit of a trade-off, I dare say.
The third point is that it was agreed that the clerk of the committee, in consultation with the chair, prepare a draft budget—which you also have before you today—respecting the committee's proposed travel to Washington, D.C., and New York in February for consideration by the committee. This report we can talk about if anyone has questions. It is here before you today.
Fourth, and finally, is that the Right Honourable Kim Campbell of the Madrid Group be invited to appear before the committee at a future date. That has taken care of itself. She was here on Monday and we were unavailable to meet with her, but that was part of what the business of the day was.
Are there any questions with regard to the steering committee report?
Can we agree to adopt this?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
It's agreed unanimously. Thank you.
Do we want to do this budget?
We have a travel budget, and this allows me to go to the Liaison Committee. This travel budget is for the Washington and New York trip. In all honesty, I was given a directive at that steering committee to talk to my whip and I have not yet done that.
I would remind the committee that this means we will use one of our travel points from Ottawa, or wherever in Canada, to Washington. Maybe the committee can refresh my memory. For this trip, we're going to attempt to see if another travel point can be used for Washington, New York, and then back home. Is that correct? No, that's not correct?
Mr. Patry.
Liberal
Bernard Patry Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
We said we were going to try to have the points, because if we're going Montreal-Washington, Ottawa-Washington, Washington-Ottawa, we should use the same points to do Ottawa-Washington-New York-Ottawa on one point all together.
November 28th, 2006 / 5:35 p.m.
Conservative
Conservative
Bill Casey Conservative Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS
From Ottawa to New York and stop off in Washington.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
We're going to ask our whips, who I think are the representatives on the Board of Internal Economy, that we be allowed to use our one point for the whole trip. That's correct.
That reflects the cost. I probably need to do this before I go to the Liaison Committee. Is that correct?
All of us should do a bit of background work with our whips before I go to the Liaison Committee, so that I can say we have general agreement among our whips for that.
Mr. Obhrai and Mr. Patry.
Conservative
Conservative
Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB
Boy, are you ever in trouble!
What is this economy plane fare of $16,000?
The Clerk of the Committee Mrs. Angela Crandall
The policy right now is that a committee travel point can only be used between Ottawa and Washington, or your riding and Washington. The budget is calculated so the members will use half a point for the Washington leg, either from a riding to Washington or Ottawa-Washington. We pay for Washington-New York, New York back to Canada. The amount of the fare—
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Deepak, on behalf of the Conservatives here, it would help if any or all of you approached our whip, and I would suggest that for all members, not just the critic or the vice-chair. Talk to the whip about it, because it does save money.
I can tell you that there will be an issue with getting all 12 members to travel. The Liaison Committee has been a difficulty in the past, so I think if we can convince our whips that all 12 are travelling and it's only going to cost $38,000 or $40,000, we may have a greater hope of getting the go-ahead on it.
Mr. Casey.
Conservative
Bill Casey Conservative Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS
Do you have a date for this? It just says February.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
February 4 to 8. This is while the House is sitting.
Madame Barbot.
Bloc
Vivian Barbot Bloc Papineau, QC
Since we’re entitled to an Ottawa-Washington return ticket, why don’t we ask, if worse comes to worse, for the equivalent of a return ticket to Washington?
Conservative