Evidence of meeting #18 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 chinese.
A video is available from Parliament.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Marty Morantz
Do I have unanimous consent to be recorded in support? Thank you very much.
Now I think we're going to go to Ms. Bendayan's question.
5:10 p.m.
Liberal
Rachel Bendayan Liberal Outremont, QC
I can repeat the question if you’d like.
I'd just like to know if the analysts intend to do anything in particular based on the testimony we heard today.
I’d also like to know, what options do you recommend to the committee?
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Marty Morantz
I'm told that the analysts would need direction from us as to what to produce. I don't know if a formal report could be done. We have the motion, and there is of course the transcript of the discussion in the committee Hansard. I'm not sure what else...unless anyone has anything in mind.
Go ahead, Mr. Aboultaif.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Ziad Aboultaif Conservative Edmonton Manning, AB
Thank you, Chair.
This meeting was a public meeting, wasn't it?
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Ziad Aboultaif Conservative Edmonton Manning, AB
Okay. If it's a public meeting, I think we're going to be questioned over the content of it, and it would be nice if the committee put out a report on that for the record, because it's public information already.
5:10 p.m.
Bloc
Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Montarville, QC
Mr. Chair, correct me if I’m wrong.
As I recall, when we had Mr. Sangay here, the motion that Mr. Oliphant initially read was tabled in the House as a report from this committee.
We could do exactly the same thing this time: Consider the motion we just passed a committee report and table it in the House of Commons. And, as the saying goes, Bob's your uncle.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Marty Morantz
That has already been agreed to. I think what Ms. Bendayan and Mr. Aboultaif are asking is if there's anything in addition that the committee could produce regarding the testimony we've heard today.
Go ahead, Mr. Oliphant.
5:10 p.m.
Liberal
Rob Oliphant Liberal Don Valley West, ON
I think a middle way may be that we take the highlights of the testimony, put it into a press release and couple it with the motion that we've made. It's not really a study report, because we didn't really do a study, but I think we have more than the motion. A couple of quotes we've heard that were important could be presented by the analysts into not a lengthy press release but into highlights: that we met with them, this is what they said and this is a motion that we passed.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
Yes, I support what Mr. Oliphant has suggested.
We have already decided to report to the House on something regarding what came out of the testimony. I think the chair issuing a statement, a press release, that combines both the report that we just agreed to send to the House, along with highlights of the testimony, would be a good way to deal with the matter that Madam Bendayan has raised.
Thank you.
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
I agree. I would just like to suggest that, in particular, we highlight some of those specific asks around the Panchen Lama case in the press release. Those were important other issues that were not mentioned in the motion that we adopted. I agree with the approach. I just want to put that in a suggestion as well.
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Marty Morantz
I agree with the suggestions.
I think what we do is direct the analysts at this point to prepare a press release. We can have a look at it and see if it's cumulatively what we'd like to see go out.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
Rob Oliphant Liberal Don Valley West, ON
I would worry. It should be our press release and not his press release. His press release would be about his asks of us. I would be happier if we focused on the more general terms. He can give his own press release on the very specific asks.
I think, frankly—I always hate complimenting Mr. Genuis, but I have to—what he did very well in his first round of questioning was acknowledge that we were hearing something and that we would take it under consideration. I think that is important to be said. I think you were very cautious to not fully take it. I thought your wording was very good. I noted it, in fact.
I think the press release should really be our press release on what we heard.
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
When the Tibetans come, we all start loving each other as well. It's amazing.
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Marty Morantz
We need to go in camera now to deal with committee business.
I'm going to exercise the chair's prerogative.
Analysts, please prepare a press release for our review, and we'll look at it once it's received.
Thank you. We're going to suspend and go in camera.
[Proceedings continue in camera]