Foreign Affairs Committee on Dec. 5th, 2006

[Alexa McDonough, NDP, Halifax, NS]

The point of raising it in the first place—and we had this discussion before—is that we're doing this study on democratic development as it relates to failing fragile states. Why would we not want to take the opportunity to hear from government about the strategy that is already in existence in a “whole-of-government strategy for failed states” document?

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

I don't know if you want the vote on this or not.

Are we going to have committee business tomorrow? Are we dealing with that motion by Mr. Martin sometime at the end of the day?

[Bryon Wilfert, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

All Keith's says is to deal with Bill C-293 on Tuesday.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

That's what we're willing to do. Basically, what I actually contacted the clerk about and what the government has suggested—

[Bryon Wilfert, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

This was actually for tomorrow. I was amending it to Tuesday of next week.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

What I've been working on is trying to get rid of the witnesses for next week and going with clause-by-clause Tuesday and Wednesday. Some suggestions are that we are going to recess early. I've heard that in each of the six years I've been here and it never happens. But if it does happen, it may happen Wednesday night. Even from our side, I've never heard anything earlier than Wednesday night, which would give us Tuesday and Wednesday. So I think we're all right with that one.

We can deal with this now, or do you want to keep going?

[Alexa McDonough, NDP, Halifax, NS]

I'm up for us to deal with it. Originally, the suggestion was that it was better dealt with at this time.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

That's good.

[Alexa McDonough, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Could I just respond briefly to Bernard? One other suggestion that's an improvement is that we strike “all”, where it says “that all relevant departments”, because I think it's up to us to decide. We always set our own agenda. We decide who we want to hear from. Just in case that causes alarm bells that we're going to bring in—

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Let's just keep going here. Madam McDonough has the floor. She has asked that “all” be struck. As I understand it, “relevant departments” would be Foreign Affairs and CIDA.

[Alexa McDonough, NDP, Halifax, NS]

It would be up to us to decide that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

All right, but you know what could happen. All of a sudden, someone could say they want to hear from the defence department or they want to hear from Finance. Then, all of a sudden, we're into this whole thing. It doesn't clearly define who is expected to come, and that's the problem I have with the motion.

Mr. Patry.

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

Alexa, when you say that you will delete “that all relevant departments appear before the Committee to discuss the report”, I think we should discuss the strategy. They're going to pitch us a report and that's it. I don't know if there is a report. To me, you need to discuss the strategy if you want to improve it.

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Calgary East, AB]

Alexa, could you read the whole thing again with all these things, so everybody is on the same wavelength as you? Could you start from the beginning?

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Alexa, I'll be honest with you, because I'm new in the chair. We're getting feverishly close to so many changes that it's almost changing the intent, because now we're going from explaining or discussing the report to discussing this overall strategy.

That's what we are trying to do here. We're talking about democratic development in the motion. We've had all kinds of departments appear already, discussing the overall strategy. So that's going. That's why the government I think can accept this. But now you've taken out the report. This is whose report? This is our report. Isn't that what we wanted--a response?

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

No, it's the report of the government. That was the strategy. It's always the strategy with us. We talk about strategy; we don't necessarily talk about reports.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

It's understood. Thank you.

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

Go ahead, Alexa.

[Alexa McDonough, NDP, Halifax, NS]

All right.

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the committee's ongoing study on democratic development, the committee report to the House its recommendation that the government present its whole-of-government strategy for failed states to the committee, and that relevant departments appear before the committee to discuss the strategy, witnesses be invited to appear to testify on the human rights and humanitarian implications of the proposed strategy.

And if I could just say so, I don't think it changes the meaning at all. I actually just think every suggestion made was an improvement, and surely that's why we had the discussion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Mr. Obhrai, do you want to comment on behalf of the government?

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Calgary East, AB]

As I said, we don't see any difficulties. The government will be very happy to come forward and present its strategy on failed states and what it's been doing. This calls for it, and I think this is an improvement, so we have no problem in supporting this.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

All right. Can we have the question?

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Folks, it's been a real treat being here with you today.

We're adjourned.