FAIT Committee Meeting
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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Meeting No. 38
Tuesday, June 3, 2003
The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met at 9:08 a.m. this day, in Room 371, West Block, the Chair, Bernard Patry, presiding.
Members of the Committee present: Aileen Carroll, John Duncan, Hon. Art Eggleton, Mark Eyking, John Harvard, André Harvey, Francine Lalonde, Hon. Diane Marleau, Keith Martin, Alexa McDonough, Bernard Patry, Karen Redman.
Acting Members present: Karen Kraft Sloan for Murray Calder and Yves Rocheleau for Stéphane Bergeron.
In attendance: From the Parliamentary Research Branch, Library of Parliament: James Lee and Marcus Pistor, Research Officers.
Witnesses: From the Canadian Council for International Co-operation: Gerry Barr, President. From the Development and Peace: Mary Durran, Researcher. From the Canadian Labour Congress: Pierre Laliberté, Principal Economist. From the Canadian Foodgrains Bank: Stuart Clark, Senior Policy Advisor. From Doctors Without Borders: Carol Devine, Access to Essential Medicines Liason. From Oxfam Canada: Mark Fried, Communications and Advocacy Coordinator.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee commenced consideration of issues relating to the 5th Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organization (See Minutes of Proceedings of April 10, 2003, Meeting No. 31).
Gerry Barr, Mary Durran, Pierre Laliberté and Stuart Clarke made statements and with the other witnesses answered questions.
At 10:28 a.m., the sitting was suspended.
At 10:37 a.m., the sitting resumed.
The Committee resumed consideration of the motion of Irwin Cotler (See Minutes of Proceedings of May 29, 2003) on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is as follows:
The Committee
- in view of the worsening crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and of compelling evidence presented recently to it calls upon the Government of Canada to intensify its efforts to reach agreement in the United Nations and through other multilateral channels, to act immediately and forcefully to bring an end to the fighting in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to start a massive humanitarian relief effort and to engage the commitment of the international community to play its part in achieving long-term stability and development in the region;
- further urges the Government to seriously consider contributing a significant Canadian Forces and civilian police contingent to a new United Nations security force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where Canada’s expertise in peacekeeping and post-conflict reconstruction and credibility in the region allow the possibility of a substantial contribution toward resolving this crisis;
- notes the implications for Canada’s involvement in other multilateral efforts but believes that the urgency and magnitude of this humanitarian crisis must make it a priority for the Government.
After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.
It was agreed, - That the resolution on the crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo be adopted as a Report of the Committee to the House.
It was agreed, - That the Chair or his designate present the Report to the House.
By unanimous consent at 11:09 a.m. the Committee proceeded to sit in camera, the Vice-Chair, The Honourable Diane Marleau presiding.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the Orders of October 28, 2002 and February 18, 2003, the Committee considered the draft report of the Sub-Committee on Human Rights and International Development on the humanitarian catastrophe in African states.
It was agreed,
- That the Committee adopt the report of the Sub-Committee on Human Rights and International Development, HIV/AIDS and the Humanitarian Catastrophe in Sub-Saharan Africa, (as amended), as a Report of the Committee to the House;
- That, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the Committee request that the Government table a comprehensive response to this report;
- That the Chair be authorized to make such typographical and editorial changes as may be necessary without changing the substance of the report;
- That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(1)(a), the Committee authorize the printing of brief dissenting and/or supplementary opinions as appendices to this report immediately after the signature of the Chair, that the opinions be sent to the Clerk of the Committee by electronic mail in both official languages on/before Friday June 6, 2003 at 12 noon.
- That the Chair or his designate be authorized to
present the Report to the House.
At 11:58 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
Stephen Knowles
Clerk of the Committee