Evidence of meeting #41 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 human.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Are we all in favour? Is there any debate on the amendment?
Are we in favour of that friendly amendment?
(Amendment agreed to) [See Minutes of Proceedings]
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Now we'll go back to debate on the amended motion.
Madame Barbot.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
You're all right?
Is there any question on the motion as amended?
Basically, we probably wouldn't have had to take a vote. That would have been left up to Madam McDonough. She accepted the friendly amendment.
Conservative
Wajid Khan Conservative Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
Who are we inviting at the end of four weeks? Is it still going to be the World Bank and all that, or are we staying with the ministers locally?
Liberal
Bernard Patry Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
First of all, we deleted the four weeks. We call the minister first, and after that, it's.... Don't be worried; we're not going to call you.
Liberal
Bernard Patry Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
We're going to call the ministers first, and the officials who work at the World Bank and IMF. That's all. We want to call the ministers.
Conservative
Peter Goldring Conservative Edmonton East, AB
I'll go back to the original. I don't believe this is necessary. We still have the right to call the minister after the report is received, even without the motion.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Although the minister can always be invited, this motion also includes executives of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
(Motion as amended agreed to) [See Minutes of Proceedings]
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
That concludes the motion part of this meeting.
You have the steering committee's report in front of you. We want to get the go-ahead on this. The subcommittee met on February 14, Valentine's Day, and considered the business of the committee:
1. That the Committee invite the Ministers of Defence, Foreign Affairs and CIDA to appear before the Committee as soon as possible concerning the motion agreed to on Thursday, February 1, 2007, with regard to Afghanistan;
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
All right.
2. That the Clerk in consultation with the Chair prepare a budget to hear witnesses in relation to the motion agreed to on Thursday, February 1, 2007, with regard to Afghanistan;
Is that the budget you prepared? Maybe we should just take a look at it right now, or should we do that later?
You see before you a prepared budget, in the amount of $32,300. This gives us the ability to call the pertinent witnesses whom we believe could appear before our committee on Afghanistan.
Do we have a motion to adopt this budget, as presented by our clerk?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Moved by Mr. Patry, seconded by Mr. Khan.
(Motion agreed to) [See Minutes of Proceedings]
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Item three:
That the Committee invite the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to appear on February 27 or March 1, 2007 concerning the study on democratic development;
We're going to give our clerks and researchers a bit of leeway here, because of the short notice, so that they can try to fit them into the date that suits best.
Do we have a consensus on the recommendation?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Item four:
That members of the Committee would meet informally with Mr. Jonas Gohr Støre, Minister of Foreign Affairs for Norway on Monday, February 26, 2007;
When we were in Norway, we met with the foreign affairs committee, or certain members from their committee. This is an informal meeting with the minister, and I think it is very timely, concerning our study.
That day is a Monday. What type of informal meeting did we discuss? Was that a luncheon, or was it a—
The Clerk of the Committee
No, it's just an informal meeting of about half an hour. He has a lunch planned with the Speaker that day, so it would be from about 11:15 until 11:45.
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Item five:
That the Committee invite representatives from Mines Action Canada to give the Committee a briefing on cluster bombs on March 1, 2007 and that individuals with differing views be invited at a later date;
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Agreed. Consensus? No one is jumping up and down, screaming, hollering and shouting. Okay.
Item six:
That the Committee attend a lunch at the Parliamentary Restaurant Monday, March 19, 2007, with a delegation from Pakistan, lead by the Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan;
Although this would not be specific to our study on Afghanistan, we certainly recognize the issues with Pakistan, and this would give us an opportunity at a luncheon...
Again, I would remind this committee that when we plan these luncheons with dignitaries from other countries, the worst possible scenario, in my humble opinion, is when we don't show up. Many take these things kind of personally, so if we pass these things here, make sure there is representation. If you can't be there, make sure someone is. I would suggest that for this one, it's important for you to be there.
Do we have consensus on that?
