Evidence of meeting #61 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 going.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Peter Goldring Conservative Edmonton East, AB
Yes. The motion is in the agenda. I hope you've had a chance to read it.
There's an additional circumstance that I'd like to say. Where it says in here that it's in relation to our study of Afghanistan, I think it also fits in very well, rationally, with our study on democratic development. The two of them go hand in hand, and I think there's an important reason for us to visit Afghanistan, to substantiate what we've studying and learning.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Mr. Goldring, I think that is something that, when I go to the Liaison Committee, I definitely will be bringing out as well. First of all, our committee has been asked to go to study Afghanistan. As to this motion, it's very important that it gets either accepted or denied today, because if this place shuts down, I have to get this to the Liaison Committee and this probably wouldn't take place until next fall.
Is there anyone else on this?
Very quickly, Madam McDonough.
NDP
Alexa McDonough NDP Halifax, NS
I'm substantially in agreement. If we all were in agreement with making the amendment to refer to democratic development as well, maybe that would strengthen it.
But let me also say I assume we then will have more input around what we're actually going to do in terms of who we're going to see and who we're going to talk to, because I want to see that if we're serious about democratic development, we deal with the horrors and the nightmare of what has happened to Malalai Joya. I mean, we're either a great democracy or we're not.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
I would just state this. There is a concern. There's a place here where I'm saying we should just make reference at Liaison Committee.
This travel may not take place until October. It may not take place until way into the fall. To go now, we probably would not see much different from what we know. But later on, when it's not 45 degrees, for example, we might be able to learn more and even see more.
Are we in favour, in principle, of Mr. Goldring's motion, without cutting off debate?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Including whatever you want in there.
(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Madam McDonough, I don't know what we're going to do here. We have another committee waiting. Can we wait until Thursday on yours?
NDP
Alexa McDonough NDP Halifax, NS
Well, the problem is that we won't deal with it on Thursday. Right? We're having the ministers—
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
No, on Wednesday we'll have the ministers. On Thursday we'll have committee, for sure, and you will be first up.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
I want to thank you specifically for that. You've been waiting on this one for a while.
We've done our process. So that's for tomorrow, Wednesday, from 3:30 until 5:30.
The meeting is adjourned.