Foreign Affairs Committee on Feb. 20th, 2020

[The Clerk of the Committee, Ms. Erica Pereira]

Honourable members, I see that we have a quorum.

To begin with, I must inform members that the clerk of the committee can only receive motions for the election of the chair. The clerk cannot receive any other types of motions nor entertain points of order, nor participate in debate.

We can now proceed to the election of the chair. Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the chair must be a member of the government party. I'm ready to receive motions for the nomination of the position of chair.

Mr. Spengemann, go ahead.

[Sven Spengemann, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

Thank you very much, Madam Clerk.

I move that we have Michael Levitt as chair of this committee.

[The Clerk]

Thank you very much.

It has been moved by Mr. Spengemann that Mr. Levitt be elected chair of the committee.

Are there any further motions?

(Motion agreed to)

I declare the motion carried, and Mr. Levitt duly elected chair of the committee.

I'll invite Mr. Levitt to take the chair.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[The Chair, Liberal, Michael Levitt]

Before we move forward with our routine motions, I want to thank colleagues from all sides for supporting me today as chair.

I also want to reflect. I was so incredibly proud to work with such a great group of individuals from all sides in the last Parliament, both as a member and then as chair of this committee.

We did great work. We really did. Looking back, I think Leona maybe is the only one who was...and Rob for part of it as well.... Bob was in Foreign Affairs? Yes? Good times.

I'm reflecting on some of the really incredible work we did, things like the Magnitsky report; Canada's Arctic sovereignty; and women, peace and security. All of them were unanimous reports.

To have the opportunity to sit here again and be part of this group...I'm sure there are going to be moments when we have some partisanship playing out, but the experience in the last Parliament, working with members from all parties, was just exceptional. I look forward to doing that kind of substantive, co-operative work again. You have my full commitment as chair that I will do everything possible to make sure we are plugging along and advancing Canada's role in the world and Canada's foreign policy as we report back to Parliament and to the government.

Thank you very much for your confidence. I really appreciate it.

With that, if the committee is in agreement, I invite the clerk to proceed with the election of the vice-chairs.

[The Clerk]

Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the first vice-chair must be a member of the official opposition.

I am now prepared to receive motions for the first vice-chair.

Mr. Epp, go ahead, please.

[Dave Epp, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

I nominate Leona Alleslev.

[The Clerk]

Thank you.

Are there any further motions?

(Motion agreed to)

I declare the motion carried and Leona Alleslev duly elected as first vice-chair of the committee.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[Leona Alleslev, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Thank you.

[The Clerk]

Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the second vice-chair must be a member of an opposition party other than the official opposition.

I am now prepared to receive motions for the second vice-chair.

Yes, Mr. Duvall.

[Scott Duvall, NDP, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

I'd like to nominate Jack Harris.

[The Clerk]

Are there any other motions?

Mr. Spengemann.

[Sven Spengemann, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

I nominate Stéphane Bergeron.

[The Clerk]

Thank you.

Are there any other motions?

Since more than one candidate has been nominated, pursuant to Standing Order 106(3), I'm required to preside over the election of the second vice-chair by secret ballot.

Before proceeding, I will very briefly explain the process.

My colleague—who is a procedural clerk of the House of Commons—will distribute a ballot to each member of the committee. You have to clearly indicate your choice by printing in block letters the first and last name of the candidate on the ballot and deposit it in the box.

We will then count the votes and announce the name of the successful candidate. If no candidate receives the majority of the votes, another ballot will have to be conducted in the same manner.

Allow me to repeat the names of the candidates nominated: Jack Harris and Stéphane Bergeron.

[The Clerk]

I declare that Stéphane Bergeron has received a majority of the votes.

He is duly elected second vice-chair of the committee.

[The Chair, Liberal, Michael Levitt]

First of all, I want to congratulate MP Alleslev and MP Bergeron for their vice-chairmanships.

Let me also add that it's my understanding that sometime early next week, the Board of Internal Economy will be examining the issue of a third vice-chair. Certainly, if there's a decision made at that time, that will come back in here. I have a pretty good feeling where that member will come from.

So that is in the balance.

MP Bergeron.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'd like to thank all of my colleagues for choosing me as second vice-chair. I appreciate this show of confidence.

I am not at all upset that my friend Mr. Harris was nominated by Mr. Duvall. As you indicated, Mr. Chair, I am well aware that discussions are underway, and I hope that this issue can be resolved to the satisfaction of all political parties.

In any event, I thank you once again.

[The Chair, Liberal, Michael Levitt]

Thank you, Mr. Bergeron.

We can now move on to the routine motions.

Mr. Spengemann, I believe you'd like to present those.

[Sven Spengemann, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Chair, thank you very much. It's my pleasure to present the customary routine motions.

I have them with me, and I can distribute them in both official languages.

[The Chair, Liberal, Michael Levitt]

I would like to recognize and welcome MP Harris to the table.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just got off a plane from Montreal, but this time on the way from Brussels. We had a very interesting meeting with the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association.

[The Chair, Liberal, Michael Levitt]

Welcome to the table.

MP Spengemann, please proceed.

[Sven Spengemann, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

Chair, thank you very much.

We have the routine motions in front of us. Some of them are quite lengthy, so I'm in the hands of the the committee whether I should read these into the record.

Let's start with the first one, which is about the analysts:

That the Committee retain, as needed and at the discretion of the Chair, the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist it in its work.

[The Chair, Liberal, Michael Levitt]

Can I see a show of hands?

(Motion agreed to)

At this point I would like to please call up our analysts.

Thank you.