Evidence of meeting #94 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 vote.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Rob Oliphant Liberal Don Valley West, ON
Could I ask that we suspend the meeting for five minutes, for us to have a little caucus talk about this? We've seen the motion, obviously. It is appropriately presented today, but we don't necessarily have a position on it right now. I'd like to talk to my colleagues for a few minutes before we do that.
Bloc
Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Montarville, QC
As for Mr. Oliphant's request, I must say I'm a bit apprehensive. Whenever we've agreed to a recess to allow the Liberals to have a little caucus, generally, when they came back—pardon the common expression—“things got messy”. Generally, the meeting ended either with an adjournment or with dilatory motions that made it impossible for the committee to function.
I would like to believe in the good faith of our Liberal colleagues. I have no objection to agreeing to this suspension. However, I have to say that this is a case of once bitten, twice shy for me. Every experience we've had so far hasn't been extremely positive, when our Liberal colleagues come back from their little caucus, either here or at the Special Committee on the Canada‑People's Republic of China Relationship. So I'm a little apprehensive.
Liberal
Rob Oliphant Liberal Don Valley West, ON
Perhaps I could respond. I think it's quite different when you're a caucus of one and you can have your own discussion in your head, than when you're a caucus of several and you respect each other as colleagues. I think it's a very different position to be in. I hope we're never a caucus of one, but....
NDP
Liberal
Rob Oliphant Liberal Don Valley West, ON
I don't think I've ever been denied a request to suspend a meeting for a few minutes.
NDP
Liberal
Rob Oliphant Liberal Don Valley West, ON
We may take longer than three minutes. We'll be back as soon as we can.
Liberal
Conservative
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
On a point of order, first off, the notice of meeting indicated that the meeting would be done at 5:30 p.m., so I would like you to tell us when the meeting will adjourn today.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ali Ehsassi
Are the two witnesses here? Are they virtual today, the two additional witnesses?
The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Danielle Widmer
One is virtual and the other one is in person.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ali Ehsassi
Concerning the other two witnesses we were supposed to hear from, one is here, and one will be virtual.
Conservative
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
Are we adjourning when one is here and one is virtual?
Liberal
Conservative
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
Mr. Chair, if I could suggest something constructive, why don't we hear from the two witnesses for half an hour and then go to the consideration of the motion on the floor?
