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FAAE Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
 
Meeting No. 38
 
Thursday, November 5, 2009
 

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development met at 9:00 a.m. this day, in Room 371, West Block, the Chair, Kevin Sorenson, presiding.

 

Members of the Committee present: Hon. Jim Abbott, Lois Brown, Johanne Deschamps, Paul Dewar, Peter Goldring, Francine Lalonde, James Lunney, Deepak Obhrai, Bernard Patry, Glen Douglas Pearson, Hon. Bob Rae and Kevin Sorenson.

 

In attendance: Library of Parliament: James Lee, Analyst; Melissa Radford, Analyst.

 

Witnesses: Amnesty International: Alex Neve, Secretary General. Champ and Associates: Paul Champ, Lawyer. University of Montreal: Stéphane Beaulac, Professor of International Law. As an individual: Raoul Boulakia, Lawyer.

 
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the Committee on August 26, 2009, the Committee resumed its study of the treatment of Canadians abroad by the Government of Canada.
 

The witnesses made statements and answered questions.

 

Paul Dewar moved, — That, in the context of its study on the treatment of Canadians abroad, the Committee report the following recommendations to the House of Commons calling on the government to: recognize its constitutional duty to protect Canadian citizens abroad; enact legislation to ensure the consistent and non-discriminatory provision of consular services to all Canadians in distress; and, create an independent ombudsperson’s office responsible for monitoring the government’s performance and ordering the Minister of Foreign Affairs to give protection to a Canadian in distress if the Minister has failed to act in a timely manner.

Debate arose thereon.

 

On motion of Francine Lalonde, it was agreed, — That the debate be now adjourned.

 

At 10:59 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

 



Carmen DePape
Clerk of the Committee

 
 
2010/01/15 3:43 p.m.