SRID Committee Meeting
Notices of Meeting include information about the subject matter to be examined by the committee and date, time and place of the meeting, as well as a list of any witnesses scheduled to appear. The Evidence is the edited and revised transcript of what is said before a committee. The Minutes of Proceedings are the official record of the business conducted by the committee at a sitting.
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37th PARLIAMENT, 3rd SESSION
Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Development of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade
EVIDENCE
CONTENTS
Wednesday, April 21, 2004
| ¹ | 1530 |
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The Clerk of the Subcommittee (Mr. Stephen Knowles) |
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Hon. Larry Bagnell (Yukon, Lib.) |
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The Clerk |
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The Clerk |
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Hon. David Kilgour (Edmonton Southeast, Lib.) |
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The Clerk |
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Hon. Eleni Bakopanos (Ahuntsic, Lib.) |
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The Clerk |
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Hon. Eleni Bakopanos |
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The Clerk |
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Mr. Stockwell Day (Okanagan—Coquihalla, CPC) |
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The Clerk |
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Hon. David Kilgour |
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Mr. Stockwell Day |
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The Clerk |
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Hon. Eleni Bakopanos |
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The Clerk |
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Hon. Eleni Bakopanos |
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The Clerk |
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Hon. David Kilgour |
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The Clerk |
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The Chair (Hon. David Kilgour (Edmonton Southeast, Lib.)) |
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The Clerk |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Stockwell Day |
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The Clerk |
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The Chair |
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The Chair |
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The Clerk |
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The Chair |
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The Clerk |
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The Chair |
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The Clerk |
| ¹ | 1535 |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Stockwell Day |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Stockwell Day |
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The Chair |
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The Clerk |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Stockwell Day |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Yves Rocheleau (Trois-Rivières, BQ) |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Yves Rocheleau |
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The Chair |
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The Clerk |
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The Chair |
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The Clerk |
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The Chair |
CANADA
Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Development of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade |
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EVIDENCE
Wednesday, April 21, 2004
[Recorded by Electronic Apparatus]
¹ 
(1530)
[English]
The Clerk of the Subcommittee (Mr. Stephen Knowles): I see a quorum. The order of February 24 from the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade is that, pursuant to Standing Order 108(1) and 108(2), a Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Development, to be chaired by a member elected by the committee, be established to inquire into matters, etc. Shall I dispense?
Some hon. members: Dispense.
The Clerk: The first item on the order of the day is the election of a chair, pursuant to Standing Order 106(3). Are there any nominations?
Mr. Bagnell.
Hon. Larry Bagnell (Yukon, Lib.): I move David Kilgour.
The Clerk: It is moved by Mr. Bagnell, seconded by Ms. Bakopanos, that David Kilgour be elected chair of the subcommittee. Is it the pleasure of the subcommittee to adopt that motion?
(Motion agreed to)
The Clerk: I declare Mr. Kilgour elected chair.
Some hon. members: Hear, hear!
The Clerk: Is it the pleasure of the subcommittee to proceed to the election of vice-chairs?
Some hon. members: Agreed.
[Translation]
Hon. David Kilgour (Edmonton Southeast, Lib.): Can you tell us whether or not we need to have vice-chairs?
[English]
The Clerk: I can simply explain that the subcommittee has the right, if it so wishes, to elect vice-chairs pursuant to Standing Order 106(3). In the triumvirate of chairs, usually you elect two vice-chairs, and one of the vice-chairs and chairs must be from the opposition, and the other two are from the government. So the subcommittee would be electing one opposition and one government vice-chair.
I am ready to receive nominations for government vice-chairman.
Madam Bakopanos.
Hon. Eleni Bakopanos (Ahuntsic, Lib.): I nominate Karen Redman.
The Clerk: There is one issue, here. Madam Redman is not a member of the subcommittee. She is a substitute. Otherwise, if I may say so off the record, I'd be pleased to accept that nomination.
Hon. Eleni Bakopanos: I didn't realize that. Could we have the names?
The Clerk: The names of the subcommittee are: Eleni Bakopanos, Colleen Beaumier, Martin Cauchon, David Kilgour, Stockwell Day, Deepak Obhrai, Yves Rocheleau, Svend Robinson, and Keith Martin.
Mr. Stockwell Day (Okanagan—Coquihalla, CPC): Are you suggesting the protocol has been one government member and one opposition member?
The Clerk: That is correct.
Hon. David Kilgour: Where does Keith Martin stand in terms of...?
Mr. Stockwell Day: I believe he's independent.
The Clerk: He's indicated as independent, and of course the standing orders say that the government whip can nominate an independent.
Hon. Eleni Bakopanos: Can I suggest, because there are members who are absent who may wish to be vice-chairs, that perhaps we suspend this until the next sitting? We have a chair. We'll choose the opposition, if you like.
[Translation]
Ultimately, the decision rests with the committee.
[English]
We can choose the opposition, but could we just then leave it to our whip or discussions after?
The Clerk: It's as the subcommittee wishes.
Hon. Eleni Bakopanos: Okay, we'll go with the opposition.
[Translation]
The Clerk: Should we now proceed with the election of the vice-chairs for the opposition?
Hon. David Kilgour: Stockwell Day as well as Yves Rocheleau.
The Clerk: I'm waiting for a motion to that effect. Mr. Duplain moves, seconded by Mr. Rocheleau, that Mr. Day be vice-chair.
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion.
Some hon. members: Agreed.
(Motion agreed to)
[English]
The Clerk: I now invite the chair to assume the chair.
[Translation]
The Chair (Hon. David Kilgour (Edmonton Southeast, Lib.)): For how long, sir?
The Clerk: For however long you decide, Mr. Chairman, or for however long this subcommittee sits.
[English]
I place these in front of the members. These are the procedural motions they adopted the last time. As you see, the list is not as extensive as may be—
The Chair: Would somebody like to propose we adopt all three of them simultaneously?
Mr. Stockwell Day: Are these the standard...? Which ones are you talking about, the motions for witnesses, travel, and—
The Clerk: No, you don't do that. That should not have been put in there; my apologies. My assistant, who does everything, isn't here this week.
These are the main motions.
The Chair: D'accord?
Some hon. members: Agreed.
(Motions agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
[Translation]
The Chair: Do we have any other business?
[English]
The Clerk: The other document we had, which shall be circulated.... Where's the messenger?
The Chair: Is that about the proposed witness?
The Clerk: No. The members may wish to take a look at this and at the motion of—
The Chair: These are just pro forma, aren't they?
The Clerk: No, those motions, Mr. Chairman, of course don't have to be considered by the subcommittee, but they involve things that are sent to the subcommittee for its consideration. In theory the subcommittee has to take them up; the question is when. With respect, perhaps it's not necessary today.
¹ (1535)
The Chair: They could be for the next meeting.
Do you want to deal with Mr. Chow? The proposal by Alexa is that we hear Mr. Chow next week. I think everyone....
[Translation]
Do you have a copy of this document, Yves?
Are we agreed that we should hear from this witness next week? Any thoughts about this?
[English]
Mr. Day.
Mr. Stockwell Day: I'm a real fan of not having meetings unless they're really necessary or there's a particular intent. Would this meeting with Dr. Chow be strictly for information purposes, or is there some intent?
The Chair: I would argue, if I may, that this is the most important issue on the face of the earth, and if this man can, as I presume, give us some good information, it's probably worth hearing from him.
Mr. Stockwell Day: I appreciate that response. I understand there is a long-term commitment to increase government aid on this particular notion. I believe we're all committed to that; certainly I am, and I think our party is. Other than information.... Are we going to be asking for an increase in the aid, for instance?
The Chair: My impression--and you can correct me, Mr. Clerk, because you know better than I do--is that we're just going to hear him out, and he's going to say some things that are worth being heard. Am I wrong?
The Clerk: I think the purpose of the motion, Mr. Chairman, is to follow up on the report of the subcommittee, which was tabled by the main committee in June of last year, on the African crisis. It was a sort of mise à jour, si vous voulez. Dr. Chow is obviously well qualified and knows—
[Translation]
The Chair: All right then?
[English]
Mr. Stockwell Day: Yes, if that's some of the intent of the report, that's fine.
[Translation]
The Chair: Any other comments?
Mr. Rocheleau.
Mr. Yves Rocheleau (Trois-Rivières, BQ): If I understand correctly, this would be a continuation of the work we've already undertaken.
The Chair: Correct.
Mr. Yves Rocheleau: Understood.
The Chair: Would someone care to move the motion?
The Clerk: Agreed, Mr. Chairman. You so move. Thank you.
The Chair: May we adjourn?
The Clerk: If there are no other items on the agenda.
The Chair: Is there anything further?
The meeting is adjourned.