Foreign Affairs Committee on Dec. 4th, 2007

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Calgary East, AB]

Here we are giving full support to this motion to study Somalia, which is important, right. I would probably say that Mr. Wilfert is right. If they don't get proper answers, they can then resubmit a motion to ask for whatever they want to do, but let's move forward on this.

The government is willing to support this motion, but they should start putting this motion and stop playing political games. The government is not going to do this and all of a sudden, instead of having a unanimous motion, you're going to start having divisions.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

I have Mr. Kramp too, but I don't know if Mr. Wilfert....

[Bryon Wilfert, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

I was just going to say that I would be prepared, if Madame St-Hilaire is agreeable, to include officials from CIDA, period, not the minister, but that we come back and revisit the issue of having two hours with the minister of CIDA.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

I think that way you have a better chance of doing this even before Christmas, if that's what you're after.

[Bryon Wilfert, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

Okay, that's the motion; amend it to include CIDA, no minister.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Okay. So, you're withdrawing that friendly amendment to the other...?

[Bryon Wilfert, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

Yes. My friend seems to be agreeable.

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Calgary East, AB]

I have a question here for Madame St-Hilaire.

What happens if CIDA comes along and says it has no project in Somalia?

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Mr. Kramp, did you want to come back on that issue?

[Daryl Kramp, Conservative, Prince Edward—Hastings, ON]

No, with Mr. Wilfert's decision, we're fine.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Order here.

As I understand, Madame St-Hilaire has withdrawn the ministerial aspect of the motion. So it would read, as is, inclusive of CIDA officials...?

[A voice]

Yes.

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Calgary East, AB]

A point of order.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Mr. Obhrai, a point of order.

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Calgary East, AB]

I have to speak.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Mr. Obhrai, go ahead.

[Vivian Barbot, Bloc, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Chairman, my name was on the list.

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Calgary East, AB]

I'm just asking St-Hilaire, by putting the words “CIDA officials”, what happens if CIDA comes along and says they are not engaged in Somalia?

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Go ahead, Madame Barbot.

[Vivian Barbot, Bloc, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Chairman, we are putting forward a motion. We are not discussing if the motion should be accepted or not. I believe that it is perfectly legitimate to ask the minister to come. The motion is of such great importance that we are asking the minister to come and meet with us.

Now, I am in complete agreement — Ms. St-Hilaire having given her agreement — with having the amendment she had moved withdrawn. However, I would like the discussion to be confined to the motion, in other words are we inviting these people to come, yes or no?

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Well, it is confined, because he was speaking specifically to CIDA. He was speaking to the portion that Madame St-Hilaire brought into her motion, which was CIDA.

So we'll leave it at that. It is amended. The friendly amendment has now become a friendly amendment with just CIDA.

We'll call the question.

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Calgary East, AB]

I want you to know--

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

It is carried unanimously.

Madame Barbot, please go ahead.

[Vivian Barbot, Bloc, Papineau, QC]

I would like a few words to be said about the visit by the ministers next week.

Indeed, it seems to me that it makes no sense whatsoever to set aside just one hour for two ministers. We should at least provide that each minister have a minimum of one hour for there to be a discussion. You will recognize, as I do, that following their presentation and once we have begun talking, there will be no time left.

So I would first like to know why we only have that much time. For us, this would even lead us to question our invitation to the ministers.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

In the past we've had ministers come for one hour; some have come for more than an hour, and then we've had two hours with five or six ministers up there.

The motion basically invited the ministers to come. I know they were trying to accommodate this committee fairly quickly before Christmas. Because of a lot of travel arrangements to different conferences all around the world, the ministers had certain times; at other times they weren't available because our committee wasn't meeting.

I haven't heard anything else, although Mr. Obhrai may be able to update us.

I know it's frustrating. When I was in opposition, and even in government, I always thought it was good to have the ministers there. You get the answers, because all the officials are usually there with them.

In some respects, I know that the ministers have tried to be here before Christmas.

Go ahead, Mr. Obhrai.