FAAE Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met in camera at 8:40 a.m. this day, in Room 253-D Centre Block, the Chair, Bernard Patry, presiding.

It was agreed, — That the Second Report of the Subcommittee on International Trade, Trade Disputes and Investment be adopted.

It was agreed, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the Committee request that the Government table a comprehensive response to the report.

It was agreed, — That André Bellavance present the Report to the House.

It was agreed, — That, in relation to its study of the International Policy Statement, seven members of the Committee, of whom three shall be from the Liberal Party, two from the Conservative Party, one from the Bloc Québécois and one from the New Democratic Party, seek permission to travel, with the necessary staff, to New York City and Washington, D.C., from September 25 to 30, 2005, for informal meetings and site visits.

It was agreed, — That the proposed budget in the amount of $55,687 for the Committee’s travel to New York City and Washington, D.C., from September 25 to 30, 2005, be adopted and that the Chair present the said budget to the Liaison Committee.

It was agreed, — That in relation to its study of the International Policy Statement, seven members of the Committee, of whom three shall be from the Liberal Party, two from the Conservative Party, one from the Bloc Québécois and one from the New Democratic Party, seek permission to travel, with the necessary staff, to Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Saskatoon, from October 16 to 21, 2005, for hearings and town halls.

It was agreed, — That the proposed budget in the amount of $92,726 for the Committee’s travel to Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Saskatoon, from October 16 to 21, 2005, be adopted and that the Chair present the said budget to the Liaison Committee.

It was agreed, — That, in relation to its study of the International Policy Statement, seven members of the Committee, of whom three shall be from the Liberal party, two from the Conservative Party, one from the Bloc Québécois and one from the New Democratic Party, seek permission to travel, with the necessary staff, to Winnipeg, Toronto and Montreal, from October 30 to November 4, 2005, for hearings and town halls.

It was agreed, — That the proposed budget in the amount of $111,760 for the Committee’s travel to Winnipeg, Toronto and Montreal, from October 30 to November 4, 2005, be adopted and that the Chair present the said budget to the Liaison Committee.

It was agreed, — That, in relation to its study of International Policy Statement, seven members of the Committee, of whom three shall be from the Liberal Party, two from the Conservative Party, one from the Bloc Québécois and one from the New Democratic Party, seek permission to travel, with the necessary staff, to Quebec, Fredericton, Halifax and St. John's, from November 13 to 19, 2005, for hearings and town halls.

It was agreed, — That the proposed budget in the amount of $109,807 for the Committee’s travel to Quebec, Fredericton, Halifax and St. John's, from November 13 to 19, 2005, be adopted and that the Chair present the said budget to the the Liaison Committee.

It was agreed, — That, the Committee authorize the Clerk to budget for e-consultation in support of the study of the International Policy Statement, providing that it not exceed $35,000.

At 8:47 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 8:47 a.m., the sitting resumed to sit in public.

The Committee resumed consideration of the motion of Stockwell Day, — That, in the opinion of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, the government should demand that the State of Israel be afforded the same right of any other member nation to participate in the deliberations of all United Nations bodies, and that the Chair report the same to the House.

The debate continued.

Beth Phinney moved, — That the motion be amended by substitution for the word “demand” with the words “reaffirm that it supports”.

Debate arose thereon.

Dan McTeague moved, — That the amendment be amended by deleting the words “that it supports”.

Debate arose thereon.

At 9:08 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 9:11 a.m., the sitting resumed.

Dan McTeague moved, — That the debate be now adjourned until the next meeting of the Committee.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 4.

Stockwell Day moved, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee invite the Minister of Foreign Affairs and representatives of Bombardier Inc to appear in relation to the Canadian government's significant investment in Bombardier Inc and the latter's railway project originating from central China and continuing through Tibet.

Debate arose thereon.

Pierre A. Paquette moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “and representatives of Bombardier Inc to appear in relation to the Canadian government's significant investment in Bombardier Inc and the latter's railway project originating from central China and continuing through Tibet” with the words “the Minister of International Trade, representatives of Export Development Canada and representatives of Bombardier Inc to appear concerning the railway project from central China to Tibet for which Bombardier is a subcontractor”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Pierre A. Paquette and it was agreed to.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

On motion of Francine Lalonde, it was agreed, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and consistent with the motion adopted by the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade of the third session of the 38th Parliament on February 24, 2004, the Committee examine the crisis in Haiti and consider the possibility of requesting the permission of the House to set up a mission to that country in order to evaluate the situation and to advise the government on its future decisions concerning the political process, the violation of human rights, the risk of escalation of the situation and what Canada could provide.

The witnesses made statements and answered questions.

At 11:02 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.