International Trade Committee on Nov. 27th, 2007

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

That clarifies things. However, we've already had the decision on the first bullet point, and this committee has upheld that amendment, so that's something else that committee members have to consider.

I would certainly hope we would just move to adopt this motion as amended. I hope members of the committee will support that as well.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

The motion on the floor is an amendment to include a third bullet stating that the Minister of International Trade be called to testify. This is Mr. Julian's amendment to add the third point, which was originally Mr. Bains' point, to the motion.

That is the amendment that is now on the floor. I have no more names on the list. Do we wish to have the question on the amendment?

Mr. Julian, on your amendment.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

No, that's fine. I think we can proceed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Okay, if there is no further debate on Mr. Julian's amendment to add the third point, I will call the question on the amendment only. The amendment is to add the third point to Mr. Julian's original motion. Are we clear?

(Amendment agreed to) [See Minutes of Proceedings]

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

We now have a motion that includes Mr. Bains' wording. Now we return to debate on the original motion, and the original motion now includes the third point.

Mr. Julian has the floor.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Mr. Chair, we've had debate on most of this motion. We've had decisions on most of this motion. The only thing we haven't debated or tried to see cut or mixed is the section on the human rights indicator, which the Conservatives said they're in support of. So I would move that we vote on the motion as amended and would hope that the—

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

We have a motion on the floor to move it.

[Larry Miller, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

I'd like to move an amendment to the motion, Mr. Chairman.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Sorry, we have a speakers list, Mr. Miller, and Mr. Pallister is next.

[Larry Miller, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

I wasn't going to speak to anything, I was going to move an amendment.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Well, you have to get the floor before you can do anything.

Mr. Pallister.

[Brian Pallister, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Yes, I'll move the amendment to delete the first two bullets from the motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Okay, we have a motion from Mr. Pallister.

[Brian Pallister, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

I'll withdraw my amendment.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Mr. Miller, you have the floor.

[Larry Miller, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

I'm okay.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

I have no more names on the list.

We're now about to vote on the original motion as amended by Mr. Julian. I think everybody's clear on what it says.

(Motion as amended negatived) [See Minutes of Proceedings]

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Okay, now we can continue with new business.

Mr. Bains.

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

Yes, I'd like to now introduce the motion I discussed earlier, which is relevant to the topic we have been discussing. I'd like to read the motion:

That the Minister of International Trade and other appropriate witnesses be called forthwith to testify before the committee on how environmental impacts and human rights concerns are being addressed in current bilateral trade negotiations, with particular reference to the Canada-Colombia bilateral negotiations.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Okay, we're just going to take a minute for the clerk to get that down. It's slightly different. It just expands it a little bit.

Is everybody clear on the motion? Is there debate?

Mr. Julian.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

I'm not clear about this, Mr. Chairman.

“Forthwith” would mean next Thursday, I assume. Normally when we have committee motion language like that it means the next committee meeting.

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

It's to the discretion of the committee, and we can have that debate once we adopt the motion. It will be as soon as possible, when the minister is available, and when we want him—the sooner the better; hence the word “forthwith”. So it could be next Thursday or later than that. It depends. The point is we want him to come as soon as possible.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Mr. Julian, do you wish to speak again to the same motion?

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

I'd like to put my name back on the list of speakers.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

You're the only one on the list.