Evidence of meeting #26 for International Trade in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was colombia.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:15 p.m.
Director, International Trade and Finance, International Trade Policy Division, Department of Finance
That's right; that's a position.
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Lee Richardson
Great.
I thank you for coming today. Thank you, witnesses and members of the committee for being so cooperative.
It was a great round. I very much appreciate the questions and answers, right across the board, that you were able to bring. They were well prepared. I appreciate it, and I think the committee did as well. You've opened up some questions in our minds, things we want to look forward to seeing on our visit.
With that, I'm going to thank our witnesses today and excuse them. After they've gone, I'm going to take about two minutes to wrap up some business.
Thanks again for appearing today.
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Lee Richardson
Yes.
I had two things quickly, and one was just a grammatical change in our mandate. When we started asking witnesses to come, they weren't sure of it, so we're just rewording it. And rather than discussing it today, I thought I would just.... I don't have it in both languages. It's just a change in the wording of the mandate; it's just to make it clearer, because some of the witnesses are confused as to exactly what the mandate meant when we said we'll focus on environmental impacts and human rights.
So the analyst and the clerk have suggested a rewording. I'm going to send that out in both languages to the committee. It's not a big deal, it's just really a grammatical change, but because I didn't have it in French today, I'm not going to do that today. I'll ask the clerk to send that out, as well as my response to a letter.
I also received a letter from Ken Georgetti, president of the Canadian Labour Congress, with regard to this committee business. I don't know whether all committee members received it. I wanted to get back to Mr. Georgetti, so I responded on behalf of the committee. I will circulate his letter and my response, and also indicate to the committee that I have invited Mr. Georgetti to appear before the committee to express his views as well. I'm asking the clerk to have that translated and distributed to members as well.
That was all I had.
Mr. Julian, did you have something to conclude?
5:20 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
Just two questions, Mr. Chair.
I believe Mr. Georgetti was asking to accompany the delegation and was suggesting that the Canadian Chamber of Commerce could do the same. I'm wondering what the tone of your response was.
Secondly, perhaps the clerk could inform us as to the witnesses who are scheduled when we reconvene after break week next week.
5:20 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
The witnesses we will have on the Monday and Wednesday when we reconvene after break week.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Lee Richardson
I'll answer the first question first, and maybe turn to the clerk.
We're going to try to hear four witnesses. Because we don't have a lot of time, I want to hear four witnesses a meeting, and rather than trying to balance it out as we have in the past, if any balance is required, we're going to go with two business and two human rights groups separately rather than together. We'll give an hour to the first group and then an hour to the second group, I think, just to get more in and allow the committee to ask questions of each one in that regard.
With regard to your question about Mr. Georgetti, yes—it was suggested to me and to the committee—he offered to attend with us in Colombia. I responded to him that it wasn't the usual practice, that this is not a government mission and therefore membership doesn't include outside organizations. There are a number of reasons for that. I'm certainly willing to put it on the agenda for debate, but that hasn't been the practice in the past. This is a committee visit, and for logistical reasons and all other kinds, we are going to limit it to the committee.
If you would like to put it on the agenda for further discussion, I'm happy to do that, Mr. Julian, but that is how I responded. I've sent you a copy of my response to Mr. Georgetti.
5:20 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I believe Mr. Georgetti was very clear that his organization would be picking up expenses, so it's not an issue of expenses.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Lee Richardson
No, no. I appreciate that, but you know we do have a lot of logistical problems. As I say, I'd rather we didn't take the time at committee. If you want to raise it—
5:20 p.m.
NDP
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Lee Richardson
Fair enough. That's okay. But in terms of tradition and the normal way we've done it, that's how I responded. You're welcome to review that.
I think that's all I have for today. If anybody else has any further business.... We will take break week and be back to our witnesses a week Monday.
Thank you.
We're adjourned.
