Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade

HOUSE OF COMMONS CHAMBRE DES COMMUNES OTTAWA, CANADA K1A 0A6

Comité permanent des affaires étrangères et du commerce international

For immediate release

Ottawa, October 27, 2005 -

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade has re-elected Dr. Bernard Patry, MP for Pierrefonds-Dollard, as its Chair, for a fourth consecutive mandate.

Having served as the international president of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie since July 2005, Dr. Patry has extensive experience in international affairs and has always been careful to thoroughly analyze and understand the latest world issues and their impact on the lives of Canadians.

With his ongoing and numerous contacts over a number of years with various individuals and organizations both in Canada and abroad that are active in international affairs, Dr. Bernard Patry says he is ready for the many challenges relating to the legislative measures needed to implement an effective foreign policy for Canada. With all the members of the Committee, he also intends to conduct broad consultations on the government’s foreign policy statement in order to better understand Canadians’ views, and those of Canada’s many allies in other countries.

“I am honoured by the confidence my colleagues have expressed by re-electing me as Chair of this Committee, and I will see to it that the House of Commons gains an ever better understanding of Canadians’ views and expectations as regards foreign policy and international trade,” stated Dr. Patry.

“Moreover, Canada has a key role to play with respect to globalization, so I will strive to ensure that the various consultations and studies conducted by the Committee make a meaningful and decisive contribution in order to better meet the common objectives of Canadians throughout the country,” he concluded.