National Defence Committee on June 5th, 2007

[Russ Hiebert, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC]

Mr. Chair and all members, there's no conspiracy here. Members of your parties on the foreign affairs committee knowingly adopted a motion that put this in place. If your other colleagues are in disagreement with you, perhaps you need to take it up with them. But all parties supported the motion in the foreign affairs committee to have this joint meeting. There was no complaint; there were no concerns. I think it's incumbent upon us to cooperate with the foreign affairs committee to make sure this happens. It would be horrible if it were our committee that put forward some procedural difficulties or blockages to having this happen. I would hate to see it happen, that this whole thing be set aside at the last minute.

In terms of the timing, there is in fact a vote tomorrow night; we've just confirmed it. It's at 5:30 and it is on citizenship and immigration matters.

Let's not go beyond reality here. We're working hard to accommodate your concerns, and I think we have a motion. We have two minutes before this committee is supposed to be completed.

[Dawn Black, NDP, New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC]

And I have a quick amendment.

[Russ Hiebert, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC]

I would hope we could pass this quickly.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Casson]

Ms. Black.

[Dawn Black, NDP, New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC]

I would propose an amendment that eliminates the parliamentary secretary and the CIDA minister from making presentations at the meeting, and that we hear from the other ministers. That would give us all more time.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Casson]

Is that addressed in this?

[Russ Hiebert, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC]

We could pass a motion asking for the CIDA minister to be there.

[Dawn Black, NDP, New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC]

I'm presenting an amendment that would eliminate those two.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Casson]

She's put that amendment forward. Is there discussion?

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

That prevents them from speaking, not from being there.

[Dawn Black, NDP, New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC]

Yes, it's to prevent their being at the head table and speaking.

[Joe McGuire, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

I understand, Mr. Chair, that the foreign affairs committee is also arguing that the CIDA minister not appear, so I think this motion should be supported, that we should have the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Defence, period, so we'll have lots of time for both of them.

[An hon. member]

Public safety is important.

[Joe McGuire, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Or whatever, public safety.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Casson]

The amendment that has been proposed by Ms. Black is that Minister Verner and Minister Guergis do not appear.

[Dawn Black, NDP, New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC]

Do not make a presentation.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Casson]

Well, okay.

[Dawn Black, NDP, New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC]

Is there a seconder?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Casson]

It's been seconded.

Is there discussion?

[Russ Hiebert, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC]

Mr. Chair, it's my understanding that at the last meeting of the foreign affairs committee, they passed a motion asking for all these ministers to be present. We know what the record is, they have been requested to appear. If what Mr. McGuire is suggesting is true...there's no evidence of it at this point.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Casson]

Ms. Gallant, and then we're going to have to wrap up.

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

I'm not sure where the discord over these two people appearing arises from them, or giving their presentations. I certainly hope the intent is not to suppress the good news and the good work that is being done by the PRT people, our soldiers, and our police who are there.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Casson]

Thank you, Ms. Gallant.

The amendment proposed by Ms. Black is that—how do you want to word that, “That we request that they do not...”

[Dawn Black, NDP, New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC]

We hear from the three only--that Minister MacKay, Minister O'Connor, and Minister Day make presentations, only those three.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Casson]

I don't know where that would fit in. Hang on.