Foreign Affairs Committee on May 8th, 2018

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Nault]

Colleagues, as I understand it, the bells will ring at 5:15 p.m., so we would like to do some business. One of the items of business is that Madam Laverdière would like the floor.

We're not in camera; we're still out of camera, for everyone's knowledge.

Madam Laverdière has a motion she'd like to present and discuss with you, and then we'll put it to a vote, I understand.

I'll turn the floor over to Hélène.

Ms. Laverdière, you have the floor.

[Hélène Laverdière, NDP, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I will be brief since we have to go to vote soon. I would like to move a motion, which reads as follows:

That pursuant to Standing Order 108(2),·the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development undertake a study on how Canada can better contribute to peace, security, justice, respect for human rights and economic development in the Middle East, with particular emphasis on the conflicts in Israel/Palestine, Yemen, and Syria, as well as the spheres of influence of countries in the region, such as Iran and Saudi Arabia; that the committee hear from expert witnesses and travel to the region in order to identify areas where Canada can make more positive contributions; and that it report its findings back to the House.

I would like to briefly add that, given the news we are hearing today about Iran, the tragedy in Yemen, the conflict between Israel and Palestine, which is particularly challenging these days, and the crisis in Syria, the least the committee could do is to address the issue and explore ways in which Canada could contribute to peace and security in that part of the world.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Nault]

Is there any further discussion? Mr. Genuis, go ahead, please.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

I want to thank Ms. Laverdière for bringing this forward. I just want to qualify a bit why Conservatives will be voting against this study.

I think these are very important issues. Certainly, Ms. Laverdière has put forward a number of studies, which the committee has done recently, one on consular affairs, which we just wrapped up, and there have been other proposals for studies that the committee has adopted.

At the same time, there are many different issues to study in terms of foreign affairs. I know that we have a proposal for a study of security threats in Canada's Arctic, and that's something that is right on our immediate doorstep in terms of our own security. This is not to minimize the importance of these issues in the Middle East, which I think all of us are seized with and engaged with in different ways. However, at the same time, there has to be a bit of balance in terms of different members of the committee putting forward different studies that are adopted. I think we should proceed with the Arctic study. There may be proposals from other members in terms of what we study as well. On that basis, just in terms of time allocation and what studies different members have put forward, I think that our side, at least, is going to vote against those.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Nault]

Mr. Wrzesnewskyj.

[Borys Wrzesnewskyj, Liberal, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

I would just like to concur with Mr. Genuis's comments on the importance of the subject matter, but also, there are a number of subject matters that have been brought forward by other members. We have just concluded this important study on consular affairs, and Ms. Laverdière has brought forward many very interesting studies, a number of which we've been seized with. However, there are other motions before the committee and, as a result of that, we'll be voting against.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Nault]

The last point is to Madam Laverdière.

[Hélène Laverdière, NDP, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would like to ask for a recorded vote.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Nault]

We will have a recorded vote. Now that there is no further discussion, we'll move to voting for or against the motion.

(Motion negatived: nays 9; yeas 1)

Thank you, colleagues.

Thanks to Madam Laverdière for bringing forward her motion.

Now we'll go in camera and deal with the business that was put to you through the subcommittee report. We will suspend.

[Proceedings continue in camera]