Evidence of meeting #105 for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was amendment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Rob Oliphant Liberal Don Valley West, ON
Okay. It's “invite Airbus, Bombardier, relevant ministers and government officials, and other witnesses as appropriate”.
I'm talking about the Aerospace Industries Association particularly, but I didn't know the name of it.
Bloc
Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Montarville, QC
Mr. Chair, as I said, and given what I plan to propose in a moment, one thing that annoys me about Mr. Oliphant's other motion is the focus on the aerospace industry, when other waivers have been granted. I would like us to also look at the other waivers granted by the government. However, if we stick to this list of witnesses alone, it limits our ability to invite stakeholders from other sectors that have also been granted waivers by the government.
I would like to ask my colleagues to vote against this other proposed amendment. This will give the committee some leeway in deciding which witnesses to invite.
Liberal
Sophie Chatel Liberal Pontiac, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I think that Mr. Oliphant's motion is broad enough. However, I would like my colleague to tell us which companies he would like to invite to testify.
Bloc
Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Montarville, QC
I'm referring to the article in Le Devoir, published on October 3. The article refers to printed circuits allegedly shipped to Russia through other countries. We aren't just talking about the aerospace industry. We're talking about vodka and shellfish. The federal government allegedly granted waivers for a whole range of products.
We shouldn't limit this to the aerospace industry alone. It isn't the only industry to have been granted waivers by the government. I also find that limiting the list of witnesses deprives the committee of the opportunity to invite other witnesses.
I would like us to keep the original list proposed by Ms. McPherson. With two meetings, inviting only the Minister of Foreign Affairs implies that we can invite other witnesses.
Liberal
Omar Alghabra Liberal Mississauga Centre, ON
Thank you.
I understand what our colleague Mr. Bergeron is trying to do, but at the end of the day, after we vote on this amendment, if he has other witnesses to add, he can certainly table them in his own amendment.
Liberal
Sophie Chatel Liberal Pontiac, QC
I think that saying that there can be other witnesses if needed is entirely in line with this. I don't think that an amendment, even one suggested by the Bloc Québécois, is necessary.
Bloc
Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Montarville, QC
Can we read this motion again? I didn't hear anything about having other witnesses if needed.
