Foreign Affairs Committee on Jan. 31st, 2022

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would also like to thank my colleague Mr. Bergeron, whose proposals I fully support. It is very important that these briefings take place.

If necessary, I will move a similar motion so that we have an update or briefings on the situation in the Xinjiang region.

As I mentioned earlier, I do believe that the situation of the Uighur people is extremely important. I think we could add to our briefing list a request to officials to come and give us an update on the situation in the Xinjiang region.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

Thank you very much, Ms. Bendayan.

Let's treat that as a subamendment, then, to Monsieur Bergeron's amendment.

Is there any discussion on adding Xinjiang to the list of Haiti and Ethiopia?

Is there any opposition to Madame Bendayan's subamendment?

(Subamendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

We're back to Monsieur Bergeron's amendment as amended.

Is there any additional discussion on it?

Is there any opposition to Monsieur Bergeron's amendment as amended?

(Amendment as amended agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

We've adopted that unanimously.

Congratulations, Monsieur Bergeron.

Do you wish to add something, Mr. Bergeron?

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Mr. Chair, for everyone's benefit, can the amended proposal be read again?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

It's effectively to ask for briefings on the situation in Xinjiang, as well as Haiti and Ethiopia, in the shortest possible time frame. They would be meetings of one full session, two hours each.

Go ahead, Ms. McPherson.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Just for clarification, we seem to have a number of things that are in the shortest possible time frame.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

Right.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

How is the decision on prioritization going to be determined?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

It's a very good point.

The committee may wish to delegate that task, as it has in the past, to the chair, the analysts and the clerk to find who's available. These are usually gaps between the longer studies, or when we compile our review, concept notes or witness lists, there may be openings to do those briefings. It's a combination of availability and urgency.

All three of them are important, are urgent, and if the committee chooses, it can delegate that task to me in collaboration with the clerk and analysts. They are understood to be high-priority items that will happen in the shortest possible order.

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, or perhaps a point of clarification, I think all members agreed to go beyond the meeting by a few minutes. I am just wondering; we are now at 1:07 p.m.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

Yes. I'm hoping to end by 1:15 p.m. unless there are significant other issues. Our maximum capacity goes to 1:30 p.m. Ideally, we won't have to go that far beyond.

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

On a point of order, Chair, I have to leave at 1:15 p.m. I'm already going to be late for another meeting by staying until then. I can't stay until 1:30 p.m.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

Understood. Thank you for that.

To address Ms. McPherson's point, I will ask the committee collectively: Is it the will of the committee to delegate the task of scheduling these three briefing requests—again, with urgency, substance, and availability of witnesses in mind—to me and the team?

Is there any opposition to that?

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Chair, if I could, I have one quick question. There are these three briefings, but there is also the greater schedule, I guess. How is that going to be determined?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

The other option.... The clerk has been very helpful in the past to put forward a draft calendar that takes us through the next couple of months on both the one-off urgent items and the longer-term studies. If it's the will of the committee, we can certainly review and receive one of those plans. If colleagues wish to make comments, they can then make them through that plan.

The only drawback there is that we would want to get some of this work onto the calendar literally within days or within the next week so that we have some discretion to schedule on Ukraine, on Taiwan and also on the urgent humanitarian cases we've just taken on board in the form of an amendment.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Also vaccine equity.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

Yes.

Let's go back to the amendment by Monsieur Bergeron as amended. Is there any other discussion? We have Haiti, we have Ethiopia and we have Xinjiang, all three as urgent briefings.

This now takes us back one more time to the report as amended. Madam Clerk, we have to vote one more time on the report in its entirety as amended. If there's no further discussion, let's take that step now.

Is there any opposition on the first subcommittee report as amended?

Seeing none, we have passed it unanimously.

(Motion as amended agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Thank you, colleagues.

I will pass the floor to the clerk for guidance on witness lists. We should be able to finish by 1:15, no later.

[The Clerk]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would just like the committee's input on witness lists. Obviously, we would need the witness lists for the Ukraine study sooner rather than later; this week if possible. I would suggest Wednesday, if members are okay with that, but I would leave it in your hands.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

I think there might be a sense that we need a bit more time.

Monsieur Bergeron.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

That is correct, Mr. Chair. I hardly see how we could achieve that before this Friday. We could schedule a briefing for this Thursday, if that is the wish of the committee, and hope that we can get some relevant information. Indeed, I don't think we are in a position to prepare our lists for this Wednesday.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

Thank you very much, Mr. Bergeron.

Mr. Morantz.

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

In terms of scheduling the briefings, I'd be fine with your having the discretion to schedule them in consultation with the vice-chairs. I just thought I would mention that.

Also, I'd like to put the following motion on notice. As I'm reading it, my assistant will be emailing it to the clerk. It is in both official languages and reads: “While hybrid committee meetings are authorized by the House, any proceedings before the committee in relation to a motion to exercise the committee's power to send for persons, papers and records shall, if not previously disposed of, be interrupted upon the earlier of a completion of four hours of consideration or one sitting week after the motion was first moved, and, in turn, every question necessary for the disposal of the motion shall be put forthwith and successively without further debate or amendment.”

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

Thank you, Mr. Morantz. That's on notice.

Is there discussion on Mr. Morantz's motion?

Mr. Oliphant.

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

I will discuss it happily but I didn't hear the motion being put. I heard it being read as notice, so I don't think we need to discuss it now.

I would like to take time to read it and understand it a little better so I can get my head around it. Unless Mr. Morantz was prepared to actually move it right now, I would just understand that was a notice of motion.

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

That's correct, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

Thank you very much.

Monsieur Bergeron.