Evidence of meeting #39 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 africa.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Conservative
Liberal
Bryon Wilfert Liberal Richmond Hill, ON
So to say that we want to look at the focus of the mission does not in any way predetermine anything.
Conservative
David Anderson Conservative Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK
What's your wording? Are you amending it, or what?
Liberal
Bryon Wilfert Liberal Richmond Hill, ON
At the moment, we seem to have more friendly amendments and amendments out here than we have motions. I would like to try to bridge and then say we will examine the present focus.
You may determine the focus is great and we may determine it's not great, but “focus” in itself is not a positioning word. It doesn't have any connotation, in my view, that predetermines anything. I say we just look at the focus. I think that's a simple way out.
Conservative
Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB
Put forward your motion, and I will have a look at what you're talking about.
Liberal
Bryon Wilfert Liberal Richmond Hill, ON
I would suggest, Mr. Chairman, that after the words “mission in Afghanistan”, we add “to review the present focus”, and then add what Ms. McDonough has added with regard to the issues of witnesses.
Liberal
Bryon Wilfert Liberal Richmond Hill, ON
It would read: “That this committee hold hearings, starting at the earliest, for the purpose of evaluating Canada's mission in Afghanistan, and review the present focus”, and then, “accordingly invite”, as Ms. McDonough has indicated.
I'm trying to look at a bridge here so that in fact—I think we all want the same thing. Oui? Thank you.
NDP
Alexa McDonough NDP Halifax, NS
So the issue is whether your colleague accepts that as a friendly amendment.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Bernard Patry
I'll give you all the moments you want. In the meantime, I'm going to read it.
Mr. Obhrai, I'm just going to read it: That this committee hold hearings, starting at the earliest, for the purpose of evaluating Canada's mission in Afghanistan, and review the present focus”. After that we had “and accordingly invite the appropriate minister, departmental officials, civil society, representatives of the diaspora, and other relevant witnesses.”
That will be the motion, if it's accepted.
I just wanted to read it for you. This way we're not going to say, what's this?
Deepak, what do you think? Is it okay like this?
Conservative
Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB
I just want to ask you something. My thinking is that the motion that I put forward is wide and open, and it takes everything into account. By putting anything else in there, by doing these things, we are starting to send ambiguous messages out. I don't want to send any ambiguous message out. I want to say let's study the thing. Mine is as wide open to do whatever you guys would like to do. Whichever way it is, witnesses are yours to call; the same witnesses that Alexa has said she wants to hear from will all be called.
Conservative
Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB
Everything can be called in that. Why do we have to put it in the motion? Let the motion be wide open.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Bernard Patry
I really think you are saying the same thing.
Mr. Wilfert said he wants to review the present focus and to call any witnesses that Madame McDonough wants—NGOs and everyone entitled to come.
Conservative
Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB
There is an ambiguity here when we say “focus”, and it can be read in any direction. We just want to take the ambiguity out of the whole thing. I see that the friendly amendment I put gives you everything you want, no side-taking. Again, I'm saying politics are out of it.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Bernard Patry
We vote first on the amendment, then their subamendment, and your amendment. It goes like this.
Conservative
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Bernard Patry
If they agree among them, we'll go with them first. If it doesn't pass—
Conservative
