Foreign Affairs Committee on Dec. 13th, 2006

[Ted Menzies, Conservative, Macleod, AB]

You're starting to scare me.

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

We've been talking about this for a long time now.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

It's the two definitions of “international development” and “official development”. ODA and—

[Ted Menzies, Conservative, Macleod, AB]

I know, and then throw into the mix what the rest of the world defines as ODA.

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

Give us the big picture, Ted.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

First of all, do we accept the friendly amendment?

(Amendment agreed to)

(Amendment as amended agreed to on division)

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Do we have another amendment from the Bloc Québécois on clause 4 that I don't have?

[Diane Bourgeois, Bloc, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

No, but I think Madam McDonough has an amendment.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Madam McDonough's is on clause 5.

Shall we vote on clause 4?

Mr. Patry.

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

I just want you to read me what we have in subclause 4(2).

It says here:

(2) In arriving at the opinion described in subsection (1), the competent minister shall consult with international agencies and [...]

I want to know what we're voting on.

[Marc Toupin]

We're voting on the whole clause.

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

Yes, but I want to know how subclause 4(2) reads. It's line 28 in English, 29 en français.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

I'll ask our legislative clerk to read it.

[Marc Toupin]

Subclause 4(2) would read:

In arriving at the opinion described in subsection (1), the competent minister shall consult with government, international agencies and Canadian civil society organizations.

[Ted Menzies, Conservative, Macleod, AB]

We've already dealt with this one.

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

No, but you're voting on the total. I might come back on this because the total was not accepted.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Yes, we have passed this, but the question is pertinent to whether or not we have a vote to carry clause 4.

Mr. Patry, continue; you are important.

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

I have one question for John.

You say that the minister shall consult international agencies and Canadian non-governmental organizations, but what happens if a provincial government or members of the civil society want to be consulted also?

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Well, we did put in to consult with governments and international agencies—

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

That is not my question.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

—but not provincial.

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

That's what he said. Do you want to read it back?

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Yes, we did say that: “consult with governments, international agencies and Canadian civil society organizations”. That was Mr. Goldring—

[Peter Goldring, Conservative, Edmonton East, AB]

Yes. It carried.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Yes, but it's pertinent to the question on clause 4.