Thank you.
Ms. Gallant is next.
Evidence of meeting #2 for National Defence in the 39th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was debate.
Evidence of meeting #2 for National Defence in the 39th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was debate.
Conservative
Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
All the speakers thus far have made valid points.
The best way to gather intelligence, as Mr. McGuire has said, is to gather it firsthand. Perhaps the best sequence of events would be to petition the Chief of the Defence Staff and the minister, and ask them if we could actually go to Kandahar when Parliament is not in session during the summer, to see firsthand what is going on and to speak to the soldiers one on one. After we've had a chance to experience this and find out for ourselves, we would be better armed to ask these questions.
Liberal
Wajid Khan Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
That's a very good suggestion by my colleague across. But before you go to Kandahar, there's not a whole lot of people in this room, including myself, who are fully versed with the reality. There's a NATO mission, there's Enduring Freedom, the American mission that's sort of converting to ISAF in a few months. What are the mission objectives? Do the NATO countries have the will? Do they have the same debates? I think it would not be a partisan thing. It would be more of an informative session so we can acquaint ourselves better and obtain a better understanding of the subject.
I don't think this will have any impact on the support for the troops, etc., but more in support of the troops. I think that's the intent, if I understand you correctly.
Conservative
Laurie Hawn Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB
I don't disagree with what's been said in terms of the desire for the information. Obviously, tomorrow night's vote will go ahead. Regardless of that, I agree with Ms. Black that this is the kind of information we should all have, and that's good.
Whether we will submit a report or we may submit a report, I think, will depend on what we've come to as a conclusion. Perhaps the amendment might be amended to say “may submit a report”. That gives us the option of doing a formal report or not, depending on what conclusions the committee reaches between now and whenever we're done. Whether we go to Kandahar or do it here with witnesses, we don't know yet.
Conservative
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Casson
Okay, a subamendment to the amendment, and the subamendment would take out the word “will”—
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Casson
Is everybody aware of what the amendment is?
Is there any comment on it?
Ms. Black, do you want to comment on it?
NDP
Dawn Black NDP New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC
I think we should commit ourselves to a report, Mr. Chairman.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Casson
All right. Is there anything else from anybody else?
Ms. Gallant.
Conservative
Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
I have a question. When we do reports there is a cost involved. Have you gone through the budget, and is everything in line with what our budget is?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Casson
The issue is to put the issue forward, then work the budget, and then bring the budget back for approval at that time, so we have an idea what it would cost.
I will call the vote on the subamendment proposed by Mr. Hawn, which would change the amendment to read:
The committee may submit recommendations and report to the House based upon its examination.
All those in favour of that?
(Subamendment negatived)
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Casson
We're going to vote on the amendment, as presented by Ms. Black, and you're all aware of it.
(Amendment agreed to)
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Casson
On the amended motion, we'll add to the end of the motion that's before you:
That the committee will submit its recommendations in a report to the House based upon its examination.
Is there any further discussion on the amended motion?
Mr. Hawn.
Conservative
Laurie Hawn Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB
I do have a question. The last sentence, or part of it, says:...determining whether it's possible to complete the mission successfully while still meeting Canada's other international obligations.
That's a very open-ended statement. What other international obligations? Are they something we know about or is there something we think might come up?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Casson
Okay, we'll get a submission back from the Bloc members on what they intend there.