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37th PARLIAMENT, 1st SESSION
Sub-Committee on Human Rights and International Development of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade
EVIDENCE
CONTENTS
Wednesday, February 27, 2002
| ¹ | 1545 |
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The Chair (Ms. Beth Phinney (Hamilton Mountain, Lib.)) |
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Mr. Antoine Dubé (Lévis-et-Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, BQ) |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Antoine Dubé |
| ¹ | 1550 |
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The Chair |
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Mrs. Marlene Jennings (Notre-Dame-de-Grâce--Lachine, Lib.) |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Keith Martin (Esquimalt--Juan de Fuca, Canadian Alliance) |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Keith Martin |
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Ms. Marlene Jennings |
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Mr. Keith Martin |
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Ms. Marlene Jennings |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Keith Martin |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Keith Martin |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Keith Martin |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Keith Martin |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Keith Martin |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Keith Martin |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Keith Martin |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Keith Martin |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Keith Martin |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Keith Martin |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Keith Martin |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Keith Martin |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Keith Martin |
| ¹ | 1555 |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Keith Martin |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Irwin Cotler (Mount Royal, Lib.) |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Cotler |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Irwin Cotler |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Cotler |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Cotler |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Antoine Dubé |
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Mr. Irwin Cotler |
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The Chair |
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Ms. Beaumier |
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Mr. Cotler |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Keith Martin |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Keith Martin |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Irwin Cotler |
| º | 1600 |
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The Chair |
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M. Dubé |
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Mr. Irwin Cotler |
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Mr. Antoine Dubé |
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The Chair |
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Ms. Marlene Jennings |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Antoine Dubé |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Antoine Dubé |
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The Chair |
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Mrs. Marlene Jennings |
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Mr. Antoine Dubé |
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Mr. Irwin Cotler |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Irwin Cotler |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Irwin Cotler |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Keith Martin |
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The Chair |
| º | 1605 |
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Mr. Keith Martin |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Antoine Dubé |
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The Chair |
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Ms. Marlene Jennings |
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Ms. Colleen Beaumier |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Antoine Dubé |
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Mr. Keith Martin |
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The Chair |
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Ms. Colleen Beaumier |
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The Chair |
| º | 1610 |
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Mr. Antoine Dubé |
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The Chair |
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M. Dubé |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Dubé |
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The Chair |
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M. Dubé |
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M. Dubé |
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Mr. Keith Martin |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Antoine Dubé |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Antoine Dubé |
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The Chair |
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Ms. Marlene Jennings |
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Mr. Keith Martin |
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Ms. Marlene Jennings |
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Mr. Antoine Dubé |
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Ms. Marlene Jennings |
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Mr. Antoine Dubé |
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Mr. Keith Martin |
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Ms. Marlene Jennings |
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Mr. Antoine Dubé |
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Mrs. Marlene Jennings |
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The Chair |
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Ms. Marlene Jennings |
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The Chair |
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Ms. Marlene Jennings |
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The Chair |
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Ms. Marlene Jennings |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Antoine Dubé |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Antoine Dubé |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Keith Martin |
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Ms. Marlene Jennings |
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Mr. Keith Martin |
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Ms. Marlene Jennings |
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Mr. Keith Martin |
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The Chair |
| º | 1615 |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Antoine Dubé |
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The Chair |
CANADA
Sub-Committee on Human Rights and International Development of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade |
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EVIDENCE
Wednesday, February 27, 2002
[Recorded by Electronic Apparatus]
¹ 
(1545)
[English]
The Chair (Ms. Beth Phinney (Hamilton Mountain, Lib.)): Ladies and gentlemen, we've already used up the first 15 minutes of our half-hour meeting. This part of the meeting is on Zimbabwe.
This is meeting 21, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), on the situation of human rights in Zimbabwe.
We had a motion last week, or the week before, but the political events for this situation have been changing so quickly that each week when we try to get the motion passed all the politics have changed.
We did have a motion from Mr. Martin, which we decided at our last meeting not to do simply because the politics had changed, and that's all. We used part of his motion and Mr. Dubé's motion and came up with another motion.
Mr. Dubé, are you ready to read your motion?
Will he have to read the whole thing? Have we all got copies of Mr. Dubé's new motion? Does everybody have one?
[Translation]
Mr. Antoine Dubé (Lévis-et-Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, BQ):
I will move the motion.
| Strongly condemning Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe's increasingly flagrant abuse of human rights, and his refusal to uphold the principles of democracy and the rule of law with the approach of the Presidential election on 9-10 March 2002; |
| Recognizing the attempt by the Commonwealth to encourage a change in these policies; |
| Considering the recent expulsion by the Mugabe regime of the European Union's Chef de Mission, and the decision of both the European Union and the United States to impose “targeted sanctions” on the Mugabe regime; |
| Noting that torrential rains in Zimbabwe have exacerbated problems with food supply and famine is now anticipated; |
| Noting that Non-Governmental Organizations in the field have underlined the need to maintain contact with the Government of Zimbabwe in order to assist in meeting humanitarian needs there; |
| The Sub-Committee on Human Rights and International Development recommends that the Government of Canada consider immediately sending additional independent Canadian election observers to Zimbabwe. The government should also grant humanitarian aid to NGOs recognized by Canada and currently working in Zimbabwe in order to help them cope with the anticipated humanitarian crisis. |
| Should the upcoming interim report of the Commonwealth election observers not reflect sufficient positive change, however, the Sub-Committee recommends that the Government of Canada then: |
| 1) Call for the immediate suspension of Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth; |
| 2) Urge the Commonwealth to prevent Mr. Mugabe and senior members of his regime from visiting Commonwealth countries, and take other measures, such as the freezing of assets; |
| 3) Continue the current Canadian policy of not selling offensive military goods to Zimbabwe, and encourage the Commonwealth and the international community to impose an arms embargo on that country; |
| 4) Encourage the international community to take appropriate action against Zimbabwe, including through the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; |
| 5) Continue to work with regional allies to address the immediate humanitarian needs of Zimbabweans. |
The Chair: You indicated that you had some changes to propose.
Mr. Antoine Dubé: Perhaps a change is warranted on the issue of election observers. If everyone is in agreement, maybe we could add...The witnesses who appeared last week informed us that the role of an election observer is to observe proceedings. Therefore, perhaps we could call for the presence among these observers of inspectors with genuine mandates. Perhaps this is the nuance that is needed.
The proposed change picks up many of the components of Mr. Martin's motion, although it softens it somewhat, while other elements combined with suggestions have been added. Taken together, along with Ms. Jennings...I read the motion in French.
¹ (1550)
[English]
The Chair: Put that line back in. Marlene, we put in, “insist on the presence of an adequate number of inspectors”.
[Translation]
Mrs. Marlene Jennings (Notre-Dame-de-Grâce--Lachine, Lib.): Yes.
[English]
The Chair: We'll put that line back in.
Ms. Marlene Jennings: Yes.
The Chair: Is that okay with you, Keith?
Mr. Keith Martin (Esquimalt--Juan de Fuca, Canadian Alliance): Yes. In fact, that one, Mr. Dubé's--
The Chair: It was in his.
Mr. Keith Martin: --along with Madame Jennings', makes a wonderful motion.
The Chair: And yours. We started with yours as a base.
Mr. Keith Martin: Oh, yes. Thanks.
Ms. Marlene Jennings: It was a combination of--
The Chair: No, it was just that we worked them all together.
Mr. Keith Martin: Yes, taking the best of all of them.
Ms. Marlene Jennings: --the three parties.
The Chair: Yes.
Mr. Keith Martin: There were some little amendments I wanted to make to Madame Jennings' that might make it a little more comprehensive, like “may suggest”--
The Chair: His new one.
Mr. Keith Martin: Well, both, Monsieur Dubé's and Madame--
The Chair: Mr. Dubé's new one. We'll call it that.
Ms. Marlene Jennings: If I may say this, my name is on it, but it is Mr. Dubé's resolution amended to take into account your resolution and to take into account the recommendations of the witnesses. The only reason my name appeared on it is that I had agreed--
An hon. member: [Editor's Note: Inaudible]
Ms. Marlene Jennings: No, no, I want to explain it on the record, because this paper is floating around.
I had agreed to do the work to incorporate into Mr. Dubé's resolution the elements from yours and the elements of the witnesses and to get it to him. Unfortunately, I was unable to reach him in time for him to table it with a 48-hour notice, so I tabled it. But it is his resolution, amended in accordance with yours and with the testimony.
The Chair: The first amendment that you had suggested, Mr. Dubé, we would put in the sixth paragraph. We'd be adding “and insist on the presence of an adequate number of inspectors.” Is that okay with everybody?
(Amendment agreed to)
Mr. Keith Martin: [Inaudible—Editor] ...because we already have election monitors there right now, as you know.
The Chair: Yes, fine.
And did you have another one, Keith?
Mr. Keith Martin: Yes, I just wanted to--
The Chair: Tell us where it would be on here.
Mr. Keith Martin: It would be number two on the draft by Madame Jennings, the second page.
The Chair: Okay, cross off Madame Jennings and put Antoine Dubé. We don't want to go over all that information again.
Mr. Keith Martin: I have two pages here, so we'll take this one.
The Chair: Yes, we'll just forget that one.
Mr. Keith Martin: So Mr. Dubé's number two says “Urge the Commonwealth and other nations”, okay?
The Chair: Yes, okay.
Mr. Keith Martin: And instead of saying “Commonwealth”, put “their” countries, because what we're doing is broadening it so it's not only the Commonwealth but the international community.
The Chair: Where would you put “and their countries”?
Mr. Keith Martin: Instead of “Commonwealth”, put “visiting their countries”. So it would say “ urge the Commonwealth and other nations”....
The Chair: Okay, “from visiting their countries”.
Mr. Keith Martin: Shall I read number two out?
The Chair: Good idea.
Mr. Keith Martin: It would say: “Urge the Commonwealth and other nations to prevent Mr. Mugabe and senior members of his regime from visiting their countries, and take other measures, such as the freezing of assets of Mr. Mugabe and 19 identified members of his leadership”.
The Chair: That's missing from mine. Where's...
Mr. Keith Martin: I want to add that.
The European Union have identified 19 specific members of his leadership who are part of his inner circle. The objective Mr. Dubé has, which is fantastic, is to target the freezing of assets. We already have 19 identified individuals, along with Mr. Mugabe, whom we could establish--
The Chair: That's fine. Is everybody okay with that amendment?
(Amendment agreed to)
The Chair: Did you have another one, Keith?
Mr. Keith Martin: On the third one, which basically is to continue the current policy of not selling offensive military goods, I would put “any military goods to Zimbabwe”, because non-offensive military goods can be used for offensive purposes. For instance, you can say you're taking a helicopter for humanitarian purposes, but you can also... So we should say “any military goods”, which I think is congruent with the government's position.
The Chair: Are you changing current Canadian policy or...
Mr. Keith Martin: No, that is Canadian policy, I think.
The Chair: Of not selling military goods.
Mr. Keith Martin: Any military goods. To my understanding, and correct me if I'm wrong, our government--
¹ (1555)
The Chair: So it should be “any”?
Mr. Keith Martin: Yes, “not selling any”.
The Chair: Any offensive military goods or any military goods?
Mr. Keith Martin: Any military goods.
(Amendment agreed to)
The Chair: We have to have a motion....
Sorry, did I miss you, Irwin?
Mr. Irwin Cotler (Mount Royal, Lib.): I'm wondering if I could make a brief amendment to the statement.
The Chair: Yes. I'm sorry I didn't see your hand, Irwin. Go ahead.
Mr. Irwin Cotler: It's right after the paragraph, “Noting that non-governmental organizations”, and so on--
The Chair: Which paragraph is that?
Mr. Irwin Cotler: That's the fifth paragraph.
The Chair: Okay, the fifth paragraph.
Mr. Irwin Cotler: If one could just include, if you wish, as a sixth paragraph, a very short statement noting the initiative by Amnesty International Canada and Oxfam Canada to twin Canadian MPs with their counterpart Zimbabwe MPs....
The Chair: That would be a separate whole paragraph, complete?
Mr. Irwin Cotler: The initiative is to promote support and solidarity towards Zimbabwe MPs, because Zimbabwe MPs are at risk. They have been intimidated, assaulted, harassed, and even murdered. So the whole idea was to provide some protection to them by Canadian MPs being twinned with them and to help assure fairness in the electoral process.
The Chair: I'm just wondering... Okay, I'll do my wondering after.
Mr. Dubé.
[Translation]
Mr. Antoine Dubé: Yes, I believe I read that this morning. I'm trying to understand the implication of the word “twin”. What impact does this have on the person being twinned with the person who is at risk?
Mr. Irwin Cotler: It's simply a question of voicing our solidarity and in so doing, perhaps protecting Zimbabwean MPs who have been subjected to violence and intimidation. This initiative may help to protect them. By offering them the protection of Canadian MPs, that would be the objective.
[English]
The Chair: I'll go to Colleen first.
Ms. Colleen Beaumier (Brampton West--Mississauga, Lib.): I think the problem with this amendment is that there was no testimony given to the committee. This isn't something that was discussed or mentioned at all at the committee.
We're saying that this resolution should apply to what we've heard from witnesses, as well as government, a combination.
Mr. Irwin Cotler: As I understand it, this resolution takes notice of what is happening and developing with respect to Zimbabwe. This would just be a matter of acknowledging something that is a matter of public record.
Look, I'm not wedded to it.
The Chair: Okay, we need to compromise, because we do need to acknowledge. It's good to acknowledge NGOs if they're working on projects.
Mr. Irwin Cotler: And they're Canadian NGOs.
The Chair: To pick out one NGO group or another one because they're doing something that we know about... There are probably other groups that are doing... We can put in, noting the initiative of Canadian NGOs, non-governmental organizations, to twin the...
Mr. Irwin Cotler: That's fine.
The Chair: ...the work they're doing over there or something and just leave it that we're acknowledging it.
Is that okay?
Mr. Keith Martin: What it's doing is really complimenting two Canadian NGOs that have done a good job in trying to protect...
The Chair: The only thing is, there are probably other NGOs over there working just as hard.
Mr. Keith Martin: Sure.
The Chair: So could we add that one, then? We'll just add that.
Mr. Irwin Cotler: I have no problem with that.
º (1600)
[Translation]
The Chair: Yes, Mr. Dubé.
Mr. Antoine Dubé: We're talking about two different things, Madam Chair. The NGO representatives that testified before the committee may be happy to accept our congratulations, but I'm not so sure they would want to be named in a resolution. As I understand it, they gave testimony about a particular situation, but they are required to work with the government in power. Sometimes, in our desire to do the right thing, we may complicate matters for them. I'm quite prepared to congratulate them on their efforts, but I would prefer not to name them. Of course, NGOs would be included. That goes without saying.
I think we need to make a decision about this initiative first and then discuss Mr. Cotler's motion, which has merit of its own. What Ms. Jennings says is true. No one has discussed it, but this doesn't preclude our improving a resolution.
I have another question for you, through the Chair. Do you recall any other similar attempts being made in other countries? This is all new to me, but it's not beyond the realm of possibility, given that my experience with human rights and international law is dissimilar from yours. Is this the first time anyone has spoken of twinning MPs, or has twinning taken place in the past under similar circumstances?
Mr. Irwin Cotler: As an MP, this is the first I've heard of similar steps being taken in other countries. As I see it, these measures afforded Members in other countries some protection in various situations of this nature.
Mr. Antoine Dubé: Therefore, I would have no objections to including that, even if the witnesses made no mention of it, because the objective here is to improve the wording of the resolution.
[English]
The Chair: Then I'll read again what I had suggested: “Noting the work undertaken by Canadian NGOs to help address the problems in Zimbabwe”. It would come right under that paragraph about NGOs. Is that okay?
Ms. Marlene Jennings: That's fine.
The Chair: That includes the group... and it's NGOs plural because there are more than one.
[Translation]
Mr. Antoine Dubé: Madam Chair, you're forgetting Mr. Cotler's suggestion.
[English]
The Chair: No.
[Translation]
Instead of identifying only one or two groups,
[English]
we have said including, “the work undertaken by NGOs”.
[Translation]
Mr. Antoine Dubé: I understood that, but Mr. Cotler spoke of the twinning of Members of Parliament.
[English]
The Chair: Yes, I understand that. It's because these two NGO groups were responsible for that.
[Translation]
Mrs. Marlene Jennings: If we specifically mention twinning, we identify the two agencies. As the Chair herself pointed out, it's almost certain that other Canadian NGOs are doing work that we are unaware of.
Mr. Antoine Dubé: Yes, the Red Cross.
[English]
Mr. Irwin Cotler: I understood, and that's why I added the amendment after paragraph five. The previous amendment talked about non-governmental organizations without naming them. I've underlined the need to remain in contact with the Government of Zimbabwe in order to assist in meeting humanitarian needs there. I understood that you didn't want to have the two non-governmental organizations I mentioned named. I accept that. But the whole idea of the initiative with respect to Zimbabwean members of parliament is not directed at the government, and that's the important thing. The idea of the initiative was to twin with Zimbabwe members of parliament, those who are at risk there. I don't mind not naming the NGOs involved, but I think you have to have some identification of what the activity is, otherwise there's no point to putting it in as paragraph six.
The Chair: We don't know what activities the Red Cross is doing, we don't know what so-and-so group is doing, and we don't know what any other group is doing.
Mr. Irwin Cotler: You have one in paragraph five. I'm saying that you have NGOs and the need to maintain contact with the Government of Zimbabwe. I accept that. I'm just saying that our contact is with MPs there, not just with the Government of Zimbabwe. That's my whole point.
The Chair: By identifying that it's twinning, you're still identifying who did the twinning. You're saying that--
Mr. Irwin Cotler: Just say, “Noting the initiative by Canadian non-governmental organizations to twin Canadian MPs with Zimbabwe MPs at risk”.
The Chair: There are only two groups doing it, so that's identifying them by the simple fact that there are only two groups.
Mr. Martin.
Mr. Keith Martin: I believe there's a way around this and perhaps a way to accomplish both objectives by leaving the, “Noting the non-governmental” paragraph intact but by also adding, “and we also note the efforts”, therein naming Amnesty International and Oxfam for their efforts to twin Zimbabwean MPs with Canadian MPs. That way we accomplish both objectives. We're not isolating NGOs, we're including MPs writ large, but we're also naming two NGOs that have specifically engaged in one activity with Canadian MPs, so both efforts are acknowledged.
The Chair: I'm just wondering if, rather than naming the two groups, it's better to refer to the twinning the way Mr. Cotler has said it.
º (1605)
Mr. Keith Martin: Either-or, I don't thing it makes a whole lot of difference. It's just a suggestion.
The Chair: “Noting the work undertaken by Canadian NGOs to help address the problems in Zimbabwe, including the twinning of Canadian and Zimbabwean legislatures”.
Mr. Irwin Cotler: That's fine.
The Chair: Do we want to include that part? Is everybody in agreement with that?
[Translation]
Mr. Antoine Dubé: Yes, why wouldn't they be? It merely says “noting”.
[English]
The Chair: Did you have any comments, Marlene or Colleen?
Ms. Marlene Jennings: No comment.
Ms. Colleen Beaumier: No.
(Amendment agreed to)
The Chair: Can I ask for somebody--
[Translation]
Mr. Antoine Dubé: There's nothing dangerous about the use of the word “noting”.
[English]
Mr. Keith Martin: I move that we call for the motion.
The Chair: Okay. We're voting again. We've already done it, but now we're voting on the motion with amendments. Shall we adopt this as amended? It's the one that says Marlene Jennings but should say Mr. Antoine Dubé.
(Motion as amended agreed to—See Minutes of Proceedings)
The Chair: Now you have this paper on your desk. I don't quite understand what this thing is. Do you see the paper on your desk with the motions on it?
Would somebody move the first resolution, please? We have to get this resolution to the main committee.
Colleen.
Ms. Colleen Beaumier: I move that the resolution be adopted as the second report of the Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Development.
(Motion agreed to)
The Chair: Okay. Could we have somebody make the next motion, that the chair, researcher, and clerk be authorized to make such typographical and editorial changes as may be necessary without changing the substance of the report?
Irwin has moved that one.
(Motion agreed to)
The Chair: Next, Keith Martin moves that the chair or her designate be instructed to present the second report of the subcommittee to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade at the earliest opportunity for its agreement prior to tabling it in the House.
(Motion agreed to)
The Chair: Now that it's all passed, since the main committee is travelling this week and next week we're in break week, it won't be in the House before the election anyway. We won't have time to table this resolution in the House before the election in Zimbabwe. I could send a letter to Bill Graham informing him of our resolution. Would we do a press release?
º (1610)
[Translation]
Mr. Antoine Dubé: On a point of order.
The Chair: Mr. Dubé.
Mr. Antoine Dubé: If you ask the clerk for advice, she will surely tell you that a sub-committee cannot table a report to the House without first tabling it in committee. We don't dispute that fact. However, the resolution recommends that the Government of Canada take certain steps. There is nothing in the rules prohibiting the Chair, acting through the Clerk, from forwarding the resolution directly to the government, that is to Cabinet or to the Parliamentary Secretary. The government could then deal with it as quickly as possible, whether or not the House of Commons is in session.
Given the urgency of the situation, that's the approach I would advocate to ensure that we impact the outcome of these elections.
[English]
The Chair: Okay, we'll ask the clerk whether we can take this directly to the House or whether it has to go through the main committee.
[Translation]
Mr. Antoine Dubé: To the government.
The Chair: Il me demande de présenter cette résolution à la Chambre.
Mr. Antoine Dubé: No, to the government.
The Chair: Vous voulez dire à la Chambre.
Mr. Antoine Dubé: By government, I mean the Minister of Foreign Affairs, through Ms. Jennings.
[English]
The Chair: The last thing I said was that I could send a letter to Bill Graham, who is the minister.
[Translation]
Mr. Antoine Dubé: I'm talking about the text of the resolution.
Mr. Antoine Dubé: Yes, that's what I said.
Keith.
[English]
Mr. Keith Martin: Can I also suggest that you send it to the Prime Minister? He will be at the CHOGM meeting.
The Chair: Good idea.
Mr. Keith Martin: They'll ultimately be making the decision.
[Translation]
The Chair: Mr. Dubé.
Mr. Antoine Dubé: Do we need a resolutin for that, Madam Clerk?
[English]
The Chair: Okay. Why don't you move a motion?
[Translation]
Mr. Antoine Dubé: Since the recommendation is being made to the government and since, pursuant to the Standing Orders, it can be made directly to the government, I move that we authorize the chair of the committee to formally write to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and to the Prime Minister, given that he is scheduled to attend the Commonwealth meeting this weekend.
[English]
The Chair: Before tomorrow, when he leaves for Australia.
Madame Jennings.
Ms. Marlene Jennings: Given that we broaden who the letter from our chair on behalf of the committee will be sent to, I would suggest, as already agreed, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the minister for Africa, the Minister for International Cooperation because in the resolution we talk about humanitarian assistance, and I'm trying to remember if...
The Chair: Mr. Kilgour?
Ms. Marlene Jennings: Mr. Kilgour.
Mr. Keith Martin: It won't be Denis. Denis is not going to be--
Ms. Marlene Jennings: Yes. And Mr. Kilgour. Let's cover all of the ground.
[Translation]
Mr. Antoine Dubé: It's Mr. Paradis.
[English]
Ms. Marlene Jennings: Yes, Mr. Paradis.
[Translation]
Mr. Antoine Dubé: It's Mr. Paradis, not Mr. Kilgour.
[English]
Mr. Keith Martin: And also Zimbabwe's high commissioner to Canada.
Ms. Marlene Jennings: No.
Mr. Keith Martin: Why?
Ms. Marlene Jennings: I would suggest that in the letter to the Prime Minister, to all of the various Canadian ministers, we might mention that we suggest that they may wish to present it to the high commissioner, but not that our subcommittee of its own volition communicate directly with the high commissioner of Zimbabwe.
[Translation]
Mr. Antoine Dubé: [Editor's note: Inaudible].
Mrs. Marlene Jennings: Yes, that's correct.
[English]
The Chair: Are we finished all these motions now?
It will still also be taken to the House.
Ms. Marlene Jennings: Yes.
The Chair: It will be after the election, but it will still go anyway.
Ms. Marlene Jennings: It would be presented to the full committee of FAIT prior to tabling it in the House. The letter will go out and be in their hands.
The Chair: But the letters will go this week.
Ms. Marlene Jennings: That's right.
The Chair: I think we've got everything now.
Okay. This part of the meeting is over.
[Translation]
Mr. Antoine Dubé: Do we need to vote on this?
[English]
The Chair: We'll vote one more time. Does everybody agree that the letter will go to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the minister for Africa, Denis Paradis, International Cooperation Minister Sue Whelan, and Mr. Kilgour. Is everybody in agreement?
[Translation]
Mr. Antoine Dubé: Not to Mr. Kilgour, but to Mr. Paradis.
[English]
The Chair: Mr. Denis Paradis.
Mr. Keith Martin: No, the reason David Kilgour is...David is going to the meeting in Australia. From my understanding it won't be Denis; it'll be David.
Ms. Marlene Jennings: What's David Kilgour's position now? Remind me.
Mr. Keith Martin: It's Asia, but he was following it.
Ms. Marlene Jennings: Okay. I understand.
Mr. Keith Martin: That's my understanding, that that's who you're sending.
The Chair: This meeting is tomorrow. Are they leaving tomorrow? You'll have to write this letter pretty fast.
Okay, is everybody in agreement?
Some hon. members: Agreed.
º (1615)
The Chair: I want to ask everybody if they are interested in doing a press release about the fact that we're sending out this resolution. In fact, the press release would really be the resolution. Can somebody make the motion, then?
Mr. Antoine Dubé: Oui.
(Motion agreed to)
The Chair: Okay, this part of the meeting is over.
[Editor's Note: Proceedings continue in camera]