Evidence of meeting #33 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 reduction.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
We haven't really had unanimous consent. I don't know how this works on the friendly amendment, but we've never voted on it. We're just trying to wordsmith one friendly amendment here.
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON
Actually, there are two, because Mr. Goldring had what I regard as a not-so-friendly amendment. Ms. McDonough shrunk that to “democracy promotion”.
I'm assuming you accept her position, is that correct?
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
I don't think there are any hidden reasons for that. Including “democratic promotion” or “development“ is just to get it going.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Madam St-Hilaire had one point, and then we'll ask the question.
4:25 p.m.
Bloc
Caroline St-Hilaire Bloc Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC
I have a technical question or, perhaps it's simply a question of interpretation. We're talking about sustainable development. I can understand Mr. Goldring wanting to include the notion of democratic development. Not that I want to cause any trouble, but shouldn't we also then include a reference to human rights? The point I'm trying to make is that—
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
It's in the original that you go back to international human rights standards. Perhaps you could read it slowly as amended, and then we'll ask the question.
4:30 p.m.
Procedural Clerk
That Bill C-293, in Clause 2 be amended:
(a) by replacing lines 9 and 10 on page 1 with the following:
reduction and in a manner that is consistent with Canadian values, Canadian foreign policy, sustainable development and democracy promotion, and that promotes
(b) by replacing lines 12 to 17 on page 1 with the following:
(2) Canadian official development assistance abroad shall be defined exclusively with regard to these values.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
All right. So the magic phrase then is—
On a point of order, go ahead, Mr. Obhrai.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB
I'm going to ask this to Alexa. We have no problem in the first one, but we do have a problem with the second one. Is it possible to separate the two? “Canadian official development”—
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB
Is it possible, in order that you have unanimous consent with this thing? Otherwise we would have difficulty agreeing to the—
4:30 p.m.
NDP
Alexa McDonough NDP Halifax, NS
I would have to say no, I don't think so. We may not be able to agree on everything. Maybe we have to call for the question. We've been back and forth; now let's just have the question and move on.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
All right. We're going to call the question on the amendment. It's not a subamendment; it's a modified amendment.
(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
4:30 p.m.
NDP
Alexa McDonough NDP Halifax, NS
Hopefully this is much more straightforward. It simply inserts a new section defining civil societies, which is more inclusive than the one—
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Hold on, we're still on clause 2. We have to go back there now.
(Clause 2 as amended agreed to)
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
I'm wondering if we can have consent to stand clause 3.
As it is only the interpretation section, it contains definitions that will be impacted by changes to the bill later on. So if we can stand clause 3 and go to clause 4, there are other amendments later on that are going to change clause 3. I'm told that by legislative counsel here.
4:30 p.m.
NDP
Alexa McDonough NDP Halifax, NS
Of course, we could come back to it, in case some further changes that we make impact it.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
No.
We would then go to the Bloc amendment to clause 4, on page 8, and we will come back to both the title and to clause 3.
(Clause 3 allowed to stand)
(On clause 4--Development assistance)
So we'll go to Madame Bourgeois and amendment BQ-1.
