Evidence of meeting #26 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 report.
A video is available from Parliament.
6:15 p.m.
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
There's something I wanted to get clarification on with respect to the sanctions study. Under the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act, subsection 16(1) says that “within five years after the day on which this section comes into force, a comprehensive review of the provisions and operation” of the act “must be undertaken by the committees of the Senate and of the House”. It's good to know that the Senate is undertaking that, and that the report has to come back within a year. The section actually says “within five years” of the coming into force of the section—by October 19, 2022.
I guess what I want us to be clear about is whether this motion is intended to bring us into compliance with this requirement of section 16 under the act. Is that the purpose of this? I don't want to do this and then find that we have to do it again.
6:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ali Ehsassi
We'll clarify that. But are we the committee that the sunset review would go to?
6:15 p.m.
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
That's another thing that's interesting about it. Subsection 16(1) also states:
and operation of this Act and of the Special Economic Measures Act must be undertaken by the committees of the Senate and of the House of Commons that are designated or established by each House for that purpose.
6:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ali Ehsassi
So it's not specifically our committee. It could very well be, but it's not expressly—
6:15 p.m.
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Well, I mean, it would be within the purview of the foreign affairs committee, I suppose.
6:15 p.m.
An hon. member
The House has to [Inaudible—Editor]
6:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ali Ehsassi
Yes. The House has to make that determination.
Allow me to go to Ms. McPherson—
6:15 p.m.
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
It doesn't mean that we can't study it independently of that and inform the study of the committee that ultimately complies with this section.
6:15 p.m.
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
It was not, because when I had moved this, it was in May, so that was not my intention. I'm not opposed to it. Certainly, if we did the two in the next sitting, then it would be possible that we could use that to meet our obligation.
6:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ali Ehsassi
But I think the practical challenge is that there are deadlines for the sunset review. If we're going to do all four of these, and there are many issues we're considering apart from the victims of—
6:15 p.m.
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Subsection 16(1) of the Sergei Magnitsky law says it's within five years of the coming into force of the section. It says by October 19, 2022. I suppose we could check back to see when it actually received royal assent.
6:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ali Ehsassi
I can assure you, Mr. Morantz, that we will not have this completed by October 2022.
6:15 p.m.
Conservative
6:20 p.m.
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
To be fair, I'm not sure if this is accurate. We should check to see when this section received royal assent, because it would be five years from that point in time. I'm not sure if this date is accurate.
6:20 p.m.
Liberal
Rachel Bendayan Liberal Outremont, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I support Mr. Bergeron's proposal. I assume you would expect that. I don't know if the amendment is formally proposed, and I am willing to hear suggestions from my colleagues, but I propose that we have two meetings.
I find it rather peculiar that we decided to do the study in question during this parliamentary session, when we have not had an opportunity to discuss the ongoing armed conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. I would certainly like us to do so before the end of the parliamentary session, as well, and I imagine that my colleagues also want the committee to address the studies they have proposed in their motions during this session.
We will still leave it up to you to set the dates, and we can discuss that next week, but I propose that we go from four meetings to two, just as we limited the number of meetings of the other studies today.
6:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ali Ehsassi
Would anyone else like to speak to this issue?
Please go ahead, Ms. McPherson.