Evidence of meeting #1 for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 42nd Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Just to clarify, it's not the ambassador; it's the foreign minister. It would be February 16.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bob Nault
All right, colleagues, you've heard the motion by our colleague who wants to forgo our procedures and move it.
(Motion negatived)
Liberal
Marc Miller Liberal Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC
Just to make sure we're on the same page, there is a process we want to respect. Obviously, that is a very important meeting, and if we have the time, we should meet. Madam Laverdière wants to form two committees. They are equally important. I think we have to have ground rules.
I get it, Garnett. It's a great idea and it conveys our respect to him, but I think we need a process and ground rules.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
It's just that this particular issue is time-sensitive. She's not going to be here on February 18 or in March. She'll be here on February 16.
I'm sorry. I wouldn't have brought it forward if it weren't time-sensitive in this way. I would be happy to follow the normal procedure. It's just that this is our first meeting, and that will be our second meeting. Either we do it or we don't. We voted and that's where we are.
NDP
Hélène Laverdière NDP Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
First to clarify, I understand it's a foreign minister of the government in exile, of course.
Of course, I would be in agreement with meeting with that person. I think it could be a great opportunity for us. If it's not possible, at least it has happened in the past that the chair would organize a less formal meeting or a lunch at the parliamentary restaurant, or something like that, so that the committee could meet those representatives.
February 4th, 2016 / 4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Just on that, for the committee's information, I believe there will be a reception after question period in any event, so members will have an opportunity to meet more informally. I would still see some value in having the opportunity for a more formal presentation, but that would be at the will of the committee.
Liberal
Jati Sidhu Liberal Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC
I just wanted to correct the protocol. My friend Garnett was asking members questions directly. Any question a member has must be funnelled through the chair. Then it's up to the chair, if he is comfortable putting that motion forward, to ask the members if it's appropriate. That's all.
Thank you.
Conservative
Dean Allison Conservative Niagara West, ON
Very quickly, I was going to mention what Hélène said. In the past, we've met informally, even around the table, but just not recorded it. That is another option. I'll just leave it at that, because this is time-sensitive.
Conservative
Peter Kent Conservative Thornhill, ON
I would just say that circumstances have placed the chair and the committee in a difficult situation given that we've just approved routine motions. But just as a reminder, should similar circumstances present themselves in the future, the committee is the master of its own domain. I think Hélène and Dean have suggested some good alternatives in this particular case.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bob Nault
Why don't you let the chair explore those alternatives and see what we can come up with, and we will stick with the orders of the day?
Would it be acceptable for the chair to ask the committee to allow a motion requesting that Global Affairs, the appropriate officials, come to the committee at their earliest convenience so that we can all be briefed? That would give us an opportunity to start talking in our subcommittee about the agenda, and obviously we'll also deal with the motions that have been presented by the NDP.
NDP
Hélène Laverdière NDP Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
Mr. Chair, I think that's a very good idea and I understand that will also be to go over the issues that are hot right now. I was just wondering what kind of level you were thinking of. Did you mean ADM or deputy minister, or should we let the department decide who they're going to send to talk about the hot issues?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bob Nault
It certainly is my intention to get someone as high up as we can get, who knows what the issues are in the department. I'll leave it to the officials to find out who's available and in what time frame. I'd like to get the committee up and running. If the department is not really seized with or ready to get into that discussion, then we'll have to come back to the committee and inform you of that.
Peter.
Conservative
Peter Kent Conservative Thornhill, ON
Chair, a number of other committees have moved forward by offering an invitation to the minister to discuss his mandate letter.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bob Nault
Yes. Well, without going too far down the road, that was obviously going to be my second discussion with you, with a motion to request that the minister come at his convenience to brief us. I also think that makes good sense, Peter, so that was certainly my intent to get the committee off on the right foot.
Can we start with the motion, though, to request our officials to approach Global Affairs and the appropriate officials to come to this committee as soon as possible? Could I make that motion? All those in favour?
(Motion agreed to)
Okay. Let's leave it at that. It is my intention as well to pursue the discussion with the minister about coming as soon as possible, which would make good sense for all of us. There are two ministers, as you know, so I would want you to keep that in mind. We will request that and see where we go with it. I'll report back to the committee on those matters.
Mr. Allison.
Conservative
Dean Allison Conservative Niagara West, ON
I promise to keep this short. I want the committee members to consider this.
I believe that as the foreign affairs committee we should be in New York and in Washington from time to time. We don't always get to it because studies and things show up, and we don't get a chance to build those relationships. With what we do—and we're going to talk about what we're going to move forward on—that should be part of the thought process as well, that we have a chance to reach out to our counterparts in both those places.
I'll leave it at that. I'll address the rest of these things at subcommittee.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bob Nault
That sounds good.
There is no further business, so I will bring this meeting to a close.
I think we have a regular slot, right?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bob Nault
The next official date is February 16. I'd like to see if we could get the subcommittee to meet before that. I'll attempt to do that. I'll reach out to you.
Thank you very much, colleagues. It was a very good meeting. I hope to see you bright and chipper here after the week of constituency work.
The meeting is adjourned.