Evidence of meeting #4 for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was afghanistan.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Bryon Wilfert Liberal Richmond Hill, ON
Mr. Chairman, I want to extend an invitation to the minister.
Obviously, if the minister can't come, then we'll have the appropriate senior officials. But at some point I would like to see the minister here, on an array of issues. On this one, it's a courtesy to invite the minister, and if he can't come then I want the relevant officials who can deal with it.
Conservative
Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB
I understand that, but why doesn't the amendment say “the minister, or in his absence...”—
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Can we have a friendly amendment to include “invite the responsible ministers and/or appropriate senior officials”?
Just as an aside—not to the specifics of this, just your intention--are you intending this to be very quick, then?
Liberal
Bryon Wilfert Liberal Richmond Hill, ON
Yes. I just want an update. If we take one session, we'll have that update. We can ask the relevant questions, and that will be it.
Bloc
Vivian Barbot Bloc Papineau, QC
I have two things to say, Mr. Chairman. First, as regards the amendment, I think the word “and” should be used. If the minister doesn't come, he will have to accept responsibility for the matter.
Furthermore, I get somewhat annoyed every time the Conservatives take the floor to tell us what the government wants. We are here in a committee, and we are here as members of Parliament. The Conservatives can give us their own comments or ask their own questions. We don't speak to the government when we work here; we work as members of Parliament and we put ideas on the table. So when I'm told that I can't present something in a particular way because the government doesn't want it, I think it's very irrelevant. I would invite you to watch that behaviour somewhat because I increasingly find it irritating.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
All right. Different members of Parliament are here in different capacities. Mr. Obhrai is the parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, so he sits on this committee in that capacity. Certainly I know Mr. Obhrai represents his constituents well and serves as a member of Parliament, but he is also here in a different capacity and sometimes he brings forward information in that capacity that is very useful to us.
Liberal
Raymond Chan Liberal Richmond, BC
I would say that if you put “and” in the amendment, if the minister is not able to make it as soon as he can, then we will go ahead with the senior officials. There is no contradiction in that one. I don't see why the “or” is necessary in the amendment.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
The motion would read “that the invitation be given to the responsible minister and his appropriate...”.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
So you would vote against the friendly amendment. Is that correct?
We have a friendly amendment that's been brought forward by Mr. Obhrai , which Mr. Wilfert has accepted.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
We have to deal with that friendly amendment first. The friendly amendment reads....
Pardon me?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
All right. Well, it's amended, then: “...and/or appropriate senior officials from the department.”
Is anyone speaking to that?
Mr. Obhrai.
Conservative
Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB
I want to tell the Bloc member that she may, as a member of Parliament, have a right to be on this committee, and so do I. I have every right to talk. And for her to say that, it's totally.... When it's my turn to talk, it's my turn. As she has the right to talk, so do I.
This whole idea of talking about whatever capacity I am or not makes no difference. I am a member of Parliament, and I am entitled, within this committee, to speak what I want to speak, as she is.
Conservative
Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB
Thank you.
Now, while on that factor, I want to know whether you are saying “and/or” or just “and”? And if it is “and”, that means you are actually saying to the minister to come, which in this case here would make it difficult, considering the scheduling and the time and the crisis that is taking place.
I think it's more appropriate to say “or”, and if the minister can come, he will. I think the words “and/or” or just “and”.....
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Well, here's my point just from this side of the table. This is to send out an invitation. The invitation is to the minister and to the.... It says “and the appropriate senior official”.
The senior official may not come without the minister. If you include the “or”, he can appear without the minister.
Liberal
Raymond Chan Liberal Richmond, BC
Mr. Chair, we had experienced in other committees that when an invitation is sent to us, that is how it is stated, “the minister and the official”, and if the minister couldn't come, they would send the senior official. And if they refuse to do that, then they have to take the political responsibility of refusing to come to the committee.