Foreign Affairs Committee on March 31st, 2022

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

Mr. Oliphant, thank you.

There are others here who would very much like to express the same view. In the interest of time, I will collectively pass that on to Professor Snyder and Professor Dembińska.

Please feel free to disconnect.

I will keep colleagues for a few more moments, hopefully to do some housekeeping.

I thank you once again and I wish you a great evening.

Colleagues, there are a couple of things. With respect to next Thursday's meeting, there's been agreement by the whips to cancel that meeting in favour of budget date. That's the first point.

Mr. Chong.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

I move that next Thursday's meeting be cancelled, and I move that the committee adopt the budget of $2,675 for the study of human rights in repressive states.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

That is very helpful. I don't know if we need the first motion, but it's on the floor. Thank you for that, and for the second motion as well.

(Motions agreed to)

There are two other motions I need. Can I get a motion that we meet tomorrow, informally, with a Ukrainian parliamentary delegation?

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

I so move.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

The second motion is that we meet on April 7 with Mr. Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

I move that motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

Both motions are on the table. Is there any opposition?

(Motions agreed to)

Thank you very much.

The third and final point from my side is that there have been consultations with the vice-chairs with respect to our work on Monday.

The two options were on vaccine equity and the Strait of Taiwan. On a plurality basis, I think the preference was to start with vaccine equity. That does not mean we will not study the Strait of Taiwan. That will come at a subsequent meeting.

I just wanted to put that before colleagues so that the clerk can begin inviting witnesses.

Mr. Bergeron, you have the floor.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

I would just like a clarification, Mr. Chair.

I understand that the committee meeting was allowed to be held on April 7, when we had just heard that the whips had decided to cancel committee meetings for that day.

Is this true?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

The regular meeting of this committee is cancelled, but the meeting with Mr. Grandi will take place.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

What time is the meeting scheduled for?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

The meeting will take place at 9 a.m.

It's an informal meeting that is not part of the committee's schedule.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

All right.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

Thank you, colleagues.

Keep safe and thank you.

We stand adjourned until the next meeting.