Evidence of meeting #15 for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 40th Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was lanka.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB
I want a clarification from Paul. Are you saying you are accepting what Mr. Abbott said?
NDP
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
No, of course not. The chair made amendments on the library and the opinion. I'm sure you were listening carefully. I'm simply saying, let's pass this report as amended by the chair.
Conservative
Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB
Right, so it goes only to your point of view.
Is it my turn to speak?
Conservative
Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB
We are discussing this committee report to be adopted by us here--the steering committee report. Mr. Dewar has already stated that he accepts your amendment because that fits into his political calendar, but he won't accept this other one because it doesn't fit into this particular calendar. However, from our political calendar, coming into this whole issue, that is what Mr. Abbott has said.
Conservative
Conservative
Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB
Mr. Chair, this is the full committee. That's why you're here. We had this debate in the steering committee, where there were only five of us, to bring this thing to the full committee. Now the full committee has the opportunity to listen to what was discussed. That is why we are saying this issue....
The central point, Mr. Chair, was that we do not have information that would actually make us feel that there was value in adopting Mr. Dewar's motion, except for Mr. Dewar himself, because that's his political ploy. He wants to put it out there. The point we are having difficulty with here is, where does this fit? Does this motion fit into this study motion over here that was put by Mr. Dewar, that pursuant to Standing Order blah, blah, blah, we invite Jim Judd to come here and...?
Conservative
James Lunney Conservative Nanaimo—Alberni, BC
I have a point of order, Mr. Chair. My version doesn't read that way.
Conservative
Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB
I was getting serious about it.
Would that motion fit under that study? That would be the most appropriate place to have that motion fit.
Conservative
Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB
Well, I'm not asking for your opinion; I'm telling you mine. Thank you.
Therefore, honestly, this is the area where this motion should fit. But the problem we have is that we, as my good friend Jim here said, have not been to the steering committee and seen the recommendations of the steering committee. It would make great common sense, as Mr. Patry suggested, for us to first look at the selections made at the steering committee, which are numbers 1, 2, and 3 there, and get that information before we even proceed to number 4.
The problem with number 4 is that it is so open-ended. When do you want him? Do you want him now? Do you want him next week? Do you want him to be part of the study? What do you want him to do?
Let me tell you how bad it is. And I want this to be on the record. This is on the record, right?
NDP
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
Just a point of order, Chair, through you to the parliamentary secretary. We haven't passed the steering committee report yet, so I don't think making references about who did what and when is in order until the actual steering committee report is passed. Is that correct? I might be wrong here, and if I am, then correct me.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
I should maybe have brought that caution forward. You see it in the report, but what happens in that meeting is in camera so we can't disclose it, although we did invite every member to be at that steering committee--
Conservative
Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB
Well, I do take that rebuke as being legitimate. That's fine. I do accept that. I shouldn't have mentioned that.
Conservative
Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB
Yes, it was in camera, so let me just get off the in camera part.
The point I'm trying to make, so that the amendment my friend Jim has made will be reflected in this report, is that he has a right to amend, as you have amended others.
Conservative
Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB
So he is seeking the amendment, which Mr. Dewar has declined to accept. We know he has declined to accept it because it doesn't fit into his particular agenda. I'm talking on that point.
Mr. Chair, I've alluded--and I want my colleagues on the other side to know that 'm trying to break this coalition that is building up on the other side. I thought the coalition was dead, but you guys are having your--
Conservative