Foreign Affairs Committee on May 4th, 2023

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Has our position changed, Minister?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Our position has not changed.

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Thank you very much.

That concludes the questions.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

I understand the minister is available for a full hour. We would like to use the last seven minutes. This is the first time we've had the minister in almost a year, and we only have her for an hour.

I suggest a lightning round with the remaining seven minutes she has available.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

As you know, Mr. Genuis, we have to take a few votes on the main estimates, so that will take up some time. We also have another witness scheduled for 12 o'clock.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Is it the will of the rest of the committee to hear from the minister for the remaining time?

I see the government members nodding.

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

There are five or six minutes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Each party will be provided with an extra minute.

Do you have a proposal as to who will go first?

[Sameer Zuberi, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Yes.

[Sameer Zuberi, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

How is it that a member can just [Inaudible—Editor] the will of the committee?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Well, Mr. Oliphant agrees with him.

[Sameer Zuberi, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

You are the chair. You direct the questions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

I am the chair, but Mr. Oliphant seemed to agree with it.

[Sameer Zuberi, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

The question should come through you instead of being lobbed onto the floor.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

I agree.

[Sameer Zuberi, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

I didn't hear you ask us whether we want to have this extended. I don't mind at all, but I think, for the—

[An hon. member]

The committee—

[Sameer Zuberi, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

I'm sorry. I have the floor and you don't. When the chair recognizes you, then you'll have the floor.

Mr. Chair, I think you should ask us a question and we can choose whether we want to extend. I don't have any issue whatsoever doing so, but that's for you to do and not for a random member of the committee—even, with all due respect, the vice-chair—to lob onto the floor.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Thank you.

It's now five minutes after, and given the fact that we have the prosecutor for the ICC waiting and that we have a few votes—which will take a few minutes—we will conclude this meeting.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

I have a point of order, Chair.

Can you consult the committee? You're supposed to take direction. The majority of the committee clearly wants this, so—

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

No, that was not the indication. There was no vote or anything of the sort.

Thank you very much, Minister.

Allow me to also thank the officials.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

You asked for unanimous consent and you got it.

I believe there was a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

He asked for unanimous consent, Mr. Bergeron, and there wasn't unanimous consent.