Colleagues, we're waiting for a couple of members to arrive, because of the Olympians coming into the House. I think we have quorum, so let's do a little bit of House business before we officially go to our agenda on meeting number 31 pursuant to the order of reference.
I want you to look at the subcommittee's eighth report to the committee.
The Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development has the honour to present its EIGHT REPORT Your Subcommittee met on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, to consider the business of the Committee and agreed to make the following recommendations: 1. That the proposed calendar for November and December 2016 and the suggested witnesses in the document entitled “Additional Witnesses For Committee’s Review of the Special Economic Measures Act and the Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act” be agreed to. 2. That the Committee give priority to suggested witnesses who can speak on the theme of anti-corruption with regard to the review of the Special Economic Measures Act and the Freezing of Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act. 3. That Gary Kasparov be invited to appear before the Committee on Wednesday, December 7, 2016 in relation to the review of the Special Economic Measures Act and the Freezing of Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act. 4. That a letter be sent to the Department of Justice with specific questions related to the Committee’s review of the Special Economic Measures Act and the Freezing of Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act.
As I mentioned at the committee, we will be sending you a copy of that letter in draft to get your input before we send it to the Department of Justice.
Last:
5. That when the Committee invites officials from Government departments to appear before it that the Deputy Minister or the appropriate Assistant Deputy Minister of the Department be the officials who appear.
That's respectfully submitted by your chair.
I'd like to move that report on behalf of your subcommittee.
(Motion agreed to)
I think we'll stop there, colleagues, and go right to our witnesses.
I want to start by apologizing to our witnesses for our late start. Parliament went a little over time today.
Colleagues, as a reminder, there will be votes at 6 o'clock, so we'll try to stick to the agenda as best as possible, to be completed around 5:30 p.m.
Before us this afternoon, pursuant to our terms of reference and section 20 of the Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act and our statutory review of the act, are Maya Lester, Queen's Counsel, Brick Court Chambers, and Daniel Drezner, professor of international politics, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.
Mr. Drezner will be with us by teleconference, so you won't see him, but you'll hear him.
With that, I'll turn it over to Ms. Lester to make her presentation, then we'll go directly to Mr. Drezner. We'll then go into questions by committee members.
Welcome to the committee, Ms. Lester. Thank you very much for being patient with us. We look forward to hearing your remarks.