Evidence of meeting #1 for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Rob Oliphant Liberal Don Valley West, ON
Could I just clarify this? I might have missed it. Did we actually pass a motion inviting the two ministers to come?
October 13th, 2020 / 5:25 p.m.
Liberal
Liberal
Rob Oliphant Liberal Don Valley West, ON
—because it takes a while to get the ministers scheduled. It also gives the clerk and the analysts some work to do, because the agenda subcommittee may not be able to meet this Friday due to scheduling, as you've said.
If Mr. Chong would make that motion—not an amendment this time—I think we could get that piece of work done and get going on it.
Liberal
Conservative
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
Mr. Chair, I move that the Minister of Foreign Affairs be invited to the committee to discuss the main estimates for two hours and that the Minister of International Development be invited separately to the committee to discuss the main estimates for two hours.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
We have a motion on the floor. It's straightforward. All members were able to hear it. Is there any debate on this motion?
Go ahead, Mr. Harris.
NDP
Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL
I wonder if I could move to add to the main estimates with respect to the international development minister “and her mandate letter”.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
Okay. That's an amendment to the motion that Mr. Chong made.
Is there any discussion on that amendment? Do you have a comment, Mr. Oliphant?
Liberal
Ruby Sahota Liberal Brampton North, ON
Could Mr. Harris repeat that? I just need clarification. I didn't hear it clearly.
NDP
Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL
It is to add to the consideration by the Minister of International Development the words “and her mandate letter”. The reason I add this is that we did the same for Minister Champagne back in March, as it sometimes gives a little more scope for questions. I don't know whether this chair would be as picky as some chairs. Some are very strict on these issues. Some look for a line item in the budget whenever you ask a question, and you have to play legal games to contort yourself into the right question.
If we have that opportunity with respect to Madam Gould, adding the mandate letter I think gives more scope and allows for a freer flow of discussion and questioning.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
Okay. Is there any further discussion on Mr. Harris's amendment?
(Amendment agreed to)
Mr. Chong, could you briefly restate the motion as amended?
Conservative
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
The amended motion reads:
That the Minister of Foreign Affairs be invited to the committee to discuss the Main Estimates for 2 hours and that the Minister of International Development be invited separately to the committee to discuss the Main Estimates and her mandate letter for two hours.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
Okay. Is there any discussion on the main motion as amended?
(Motion as amended agreed to)
Thank you very much, Mr. Oliphant, for taking that piece of work out of our way and putting it on the agenda.
That leaves us with the exploration of the closest possible timing for a meeting of the subcommittee on procedure, the steering committee. We will come back very shortly with the timeline for your motions, ideally in both official languages. We will also come back with the timing of that subcommittee meeting.
Madam Clerk, does that meet your requirements for the moment?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
Thank you so much everybody—our analysts, our interpreters, our technicians behind the scenes, all of you—and our staff who are working so hard to keep us strong. Thank you for being part of this committee. Thank you again for the confidence that you placed in me.
These are challenging times, no doubt, but there is some important and interesting work ahead of us. I look forward to working with all of you.
We will be in touch very shortly with respect to the subcommittee meeting.
Can I get a motion to adjourn?
