I call this meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting number 131 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development. Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, and I'm told by the clerk that connectivity tests have been undertaken.
I'd like to remind participants and members of the following: Please wait until I recognize you by name before you speak. All comments should be made through the chair. Members, please raise your hand if you wish to speak, whether participating in person or via Zoom. The clerk and I will manage the speaking order as best we can.
Pursuant to the order of reference of Wednesday, June 5, 2024, the committee is resuming consideration of Bill C-353, the foreign hostage takers accountability act. We will begin the clause-by-clause consideration of the bill.
With us today we have many experts, and we're very grateful to all of them for appearing before us. From the Canada Border Services Agency, we have Mr. Derek Janhevich, director, inadmissibility policy division; Mr. Scott Nesbitt, general counsel, legal services unit; and Mr. Jeff Robertson, manager, inadmissibility policy division.
From the Department of Finance, we have Mr. Jeremy Weil, senior director of financial crimes governance and operations.
From the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, we're grateful to have back with us Mr. Vasken Khabayan, acting executive director for sanctions policy and sanctions outreach, compliance and enforcement; Ms. Toby Schwartz, director of consular policy, arbitrary detention and hostage affairs; and Ms. Richelle Smockum, deputy director, emergency management policy and international critical incidents.
From the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, we're grateful to have with us Chief Superintendent Denis Beaudoin, director general of federal policing and the national security division.
Last, but certainly not least, we're also grateful to have with us here for guidance today two legislative clerks, Mr. Jacques Maziade and Madame Michelle Legault.
I'd like to provide members of the committee with a few comments on how the committee will proceed with the clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-353.
As the name indicates, this is an examination of all the clauses in the order in which they appear in the bill. I will call each clause successively, and each clause is subject to debate and a vote. If there are amendments to the clause in question, I will recognize the member proposing it, who may explain it.
In addition to having to be properly drafted in a legal sense, amendments must also be procedurally admissible. The chair may be called upon to rule amendments inadmissible if they go against the principle of the bill or beyond the scope of the bill, both of which are adopted by the House when it agrees to the bill at second reading, or if they offend the financial prerogatives of the Crown.
Amendments have been given a number in the top right corner to indicate which party submitted them. There is no need for a seconder to move an amendment. Once it is moved, you will need unanimous consent to withdraw it.
During debate on an amendment, members are permitted to move subamendments. Approval from the mover of the amendment is not required. Subamendments must be provided in writing. Only one subamendment may be considered at a time, and that subamendment cannot be amended.
When a subamendment is moved to an amendment, it is voted on first. Then another subamendment may be moved, or the committee may consider the main amendment and vote on it.
Finally, if members have any questions regarding the procedural admissibility of amendments, the legislative clerks are here to assist the committee; however, they are not legal drafters. Should members require assistance with drafting a subamendment, they must contact the legislative counsel.
I thank the members for their attention, and I wish us all a productive clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-353.
Before we get into it, I would like to advise the members that thanks to the efforts of the clerk, Minister Joly has confirmed that she will be appearing on December 12 for one hour.
Thank you for that.
Now we're going to go through the clause-by-clause consideration. Pursuant to Standing Order 75(1), consideration of clause 1, which is the short title of the bill, and a vote on the preamble are postponed.
(On clause 2)
Shall clause 2 carry?
