Foreign Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, I've simply tabled my motion, and it's in sequence with what our business is. I guess debate ensues.

Foreign Affairs committee  Has he moved it yet?

Foreign Affairs committee  I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

Foreign Affairs committee  No, we're debating.... Actually, what you're asking is whether his motion can go into the first spot, correct?

Foreign Affairs committee  I'd like to move an amendment to the motion: that in addition to the minister coming forward, the committee report back to the House on whether this committee has confidence in the minister, and that the committee report back to the House as soon as possible.

Foreign Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, just to clarify, we have an amendment in front of us.

Foreign Affairs committee  I think what we're debating right now is whether or not we can bring my motion forward. That's all we are debating at this point. I'd like to get that done first, and then we can discuss at that point amendments to be made so that we can meet halfway on this--so no.

Foreign Affairs committee  When we came back, I had my hand up. I thought we were continuing on from where we were at the last meeting, and my motion was on the floor. I had my hand up thinking we were going to continue on from that point. I didn't see anyone else's hand up.

Foreign Affairs committee  I don't want to take too much time on this, but to my understanding--I guess this is to the clerk, through you, Chair--we had been discussing my motion. I thought that's where we had left off. And as far as that was concerned, we were continuing on and discussing that and debating it.

Foreign Affairs committee  Then it would be Mr. Goldring continuing his comments on the debate. It wasn't about his moving another motion.

Foreign Affairs committee  Chair, I want to reflect the fact that I believe the government--I think Mr. Obhrai--posited a motion to have the Minister of Foreign Affairs come to committee. I'd like to have the committee pass the motion we're discussing now that's in front of us to allow my motion to come forward.

Foreign Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, I'm sorry to intervene, but I was simply noting that there had been a notice of motion from the government to have the minister come to this committee. I was simply asking that we consider my motion to have the minister come. I was offering an olive branch of sorts when we get that motion in front of us, but we have to pass a motion to allow it to come to us in committee.

Foreign Affairs committee  That's the choice of the minister and the government. I don't think that would be a smart decision for him.

Foreign Affairs committee  Yes, but essentially you're saying go to Mr. Obhrai's motion, which wasn't in the queue, and then go back to Mr. Goldring on that. It's supported, it's something the committee does upon request for the estimates and should be done. But you should note, and probably it's been passed on to everyone, that the estimates will be going to the House anyhow, upon request of the official opposition.

Foreign Affairs committee  And that's the choice of the official opposition, right?