Foreign Affairs Committee on June 8th, 2010

[James Lunney, Conservative, Nanaimo—Alberni, BC]

I could try that.

Over the course of the consideration of Bill C-300...members of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development have heard testimony that has included numerous misleading and false allegations related to Barrick Gold Corporation's operations and conduct overseas.

They go on to state, and I quote:

...we regret that certain testimony has polarized this debate, rather than enhancing the collaborative dialogue on corporate social responsibility...underway within Canada and internationally.

I'll skip ahead to, “allegations of sexual assault by mine security personnel”:

We wish to confirm that in May 2010, Chris Albin-Lakey from Human Rights Watch advised company representatives directly that there had been a series of allegations of rape by mine security personnel made to him by women during his recent visit to PNG.

We are deeply concerned and PJV has commenced a formal investigation into these allegations.

They go on to say that:

The information provided...during the course of the meeting was very general in nature and did not contain specific details that would enable a proper and thorough investigation. We recognize the sensitivities associated with providing concrete information of this kind; however, details such as time period and location would be very important to facilitate the investigation process.

Barrick and PJV welcome the opportunity to work collaboratively with Human Rights Watch on this matter.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Mr. Lunney, I have a point of order.

Mr. McKay.

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

It's a shame that the CEO or the president of Barrick weren't able to come from Toronto to Ottawa today to directly refute whatever allegations they wish to refute, unlike the CEO for Pacific Rim, who I suspect flew in all the way from Vancouver to refute allegations made about his company.

Nevertheless, Mr. Chair, I see no materiality, no relevance to reading into the record something that is already part of the documentation that this committee has received.

In my final point, Chair, I wish the record to show that we have made every effort to go to clause-by-clause, that we have made every effort to put forward the amendments that I would like to put forward--and anyone else who wishes to put forward amendments--and that when this bill goes back to the House that we have every opportunity to present the amendments when it comes to report stage at third reading.

If members could keep their remarks somewhere remotely, approximately, close to the motion in front of us, I'd appreciate their support in that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Thank you, Mr. McKay.

I have another point of order from Mr. Abbott.

[Jim Abbott, Conservative, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

Mr. Chair, I want to speak specifically to Mr. McKay's point of order, not to the motion, but to the point of order.

I suggest that Mr. McKay is somewhat disingenuous in presenting the motion to go to clause-by-clause when there was less than a half-hour left in this meeting. I remind him that we have gone through three complete timeframes during which the legislation would normally be available for consideration by this committee: first, as a result of the extension; secondly, as a result of the prorogation.... In fact there has been more than ample time for the member to have raised a motion or brought to the steering committee a request that we go to clause-by-clause. That has not happened.

I suggest, with the greatest respect to my friend, that he is significantly disingenuous in bringing forward this motion at this time. He is then speaking on this point of order so that it's a matter of record on the Hansard of this session and he can go to the Speaker and say he tried to get to clause-by-clause.

Well, it's simply not genuine that he tried to get to clause-by-clause when he knew full well there was only one half-hour left in this time.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Okay, do you know what? I think I've heard enough from both sides. It doesn't seem like we're getting anywhere.

I am going to adjourn the meeting.

Thank you.