FAIT Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met at 3:35 p.m. this day, in Room 371 West Block, for the purpose of electing a Chair, pursuant to Standing Order 106(1).

On motion of Dan McTeague, it was agreed, — That Bernard Patry be elected Chair of the Committee.

The Clerk of the Committee presided over the election of the Vice-Chairs.

On motion of Bill Casey, it was agreed, — That Stockwell Day be elected as Opposition Vice-Chair of the Committee.

The Clerk of the Committee presided over the election of the Vice-Chairs.

Karen Redman moved, — That Byron Wilfort be elected as Government Vice-Chair of the Committee.

Scotwell Day moved, — That Diane Marleau be elected as Government Vice-Chair of the Committee.

Pursuant to Standing Order 106(3), the election was conducted by secret ballot.

The ballots having been counted, no member having been elected, another election was conducted by secret ballot.

The ballots having been counted, Diane Marleau was declared duly elected as Government Vice-Chair of the Committee.

It was agreed, — That the Chair, the two Vice-Chairs, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affaires and a representative of the Conservative Party, the Bloc Québécois, the New Democratic Party and two (2) additional representatives of the Liberal Party do compose the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure.

It was agreed, — That the Committee retain the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament, as needed, to assist the Committee in its work, at the discretion of the Chair.

It was agreed, — That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive and publish evidence when a quorum is not present provided that at least three (3) members are present, including a member of the opposition.

It was agreed, — That witnesses be given ten (10) minutes for their opening statement; that, during the questioning of witnesses, there be allocated ten (10) minutes for the first questioner of each party when a Minister appears before the Committee and five (5) minutes for other meetings and that thereafter, five (5) minutes be allocated to each subsequent questioner, alternating between Opposition and Government parties, at the discretion of the Chair.

It was agreed, — That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses, not exceeding two (2) representatives per organization; provided that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives may be authorized by the Chair.

It was agreed, — That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute to the members of the Committee documents only when they exist in both official languages.

It was agreed, — That the Committee be authorized to purchase documents for its use.

It was agreed, — That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements for working meals for the Committee and its subcommittees.

It was agreed, — That, unless otherwise ordered, each Committee member be allowed to have one staff person present at in camera meetings.

It was agreed, — That one copy of the transcript of all in camera meetings be kept in the Committee Clerk’s office for consultation by members of the Committee.

It was agreed, — That the Committee be authorized to purchase gifts to be presented to foreign hosts while travelling and as well to foreign delegations visiting Ottawa.

It was agreed, — That, pursuant to Standing Orders 108(1) and 108(2), a Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Development to be chaired by a member elected by the Subcommittee, be established to inquire into matters relating to the promotion of respect for international human rights and the achievement of sustainable human development goals, as may be referred to it by the Committee; that the Subcommittee be composed of nine (9) members or associate members of which five (5) shall be government members and four (4) shall be opposition members, to be named following the usual consultations with the Whips; and that the Subcommittee be empowered to send for persons, papers and records, to receive evidence, to sit during a time when the Committee is not sitting in Ottawa, to sit when the Committee is sitting outside Parliamentary Precinct and to sit during periods when the House stands adjourned.

It was agreed, — That, pursuant to Standing Orders 108(1) and 108(2), a Subcommittee on International Trade, Trade Disputes and Investment to be chaired by a member elected by the Subcommittee, be established to inquire into Canada’s trade and investment relations and in particular any matters pertaining to the negotiation and implementation of international agreements, as may be referred to it by the Committee; that the Subcommittee be composed of nine (9) members or associate members of which five (5) shall be government members and four (4) shall be opposition members, to be named following the usual consultations with the Whips; and that the Subcommittee be empowered to send for persons, papers and records, to receive evidence, to sit during a time when the Committee is not sitting in Ottawa, to sit when the Committee is sitting outside Parliamentary Precinct and to sit during periods when the House stands adjourned.

It was agreed, — That, except for amendments to bills, twenty-four (24) hours’ notice be given before any substantive motion is considered by the Committee; that the motion be filed with the Clerk of the Committee and circulated to members in both official languages; that the Clerk shall put the motion on the agenda of the Committee’s next meeting.

It was agreed, — That for motions requiring (24) hours notice, the Chair be authorized to defer consideration until 15 minutes prior to the adjournment time for the meeting as indicated in the Notice of the Meeting.

It was agreed, — That the request of the Falun Dafa Association of Canada to appear before the Committee be deferred to the Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Development.

It was agreed, — That the request of the “Rassemblement canadien pour le Liban” (RCPL) to appear before the Committee to present its study on human rights abuse and democracy in Lebanon be referred to the Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Development.

It was agreed, — That the request from Amnesty International for the Committee to consider relations with China in view of human rights concerns be referred to the Sub-Committee on Human Rights and International Development.

It was agreed, — That, during the annual appearance of the Ambassador for disarmament, pursuant to Recommendation 2 of the Committee’s December 1998 Report, Canada and the Nuclear Challenge: Reducing the Political Value of Nuclear Weapons for the Twenty-First Century, representatives of the Canadian Network to Abolish Nuclear Weapons be also invited to appear.

It was agreed, — That the invitation of December 11, 2002 from the Auditor General for Committee to consider Chapter 3 of the December, 2002 Report, “Special Import Measures Act: Protecting against Dumped or Subsidized Imports” be referred to the Sub-Committee on International Trade, Trade Disputes and Investments.

It was agreed, — That consideration of issues relating to the Rwanda genocide in Rwanda be referred to the Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Development.

It was agreed, — That the Committee resume its study of Canada’s relations with countries of the Muslim world, begun in the second session of the 37th Parliament, pursuant to the Order of February 6, 2003.

It was agreed, — That the evidence, briefs and documents received during the Ottawa proceedings and information received during travel by the Committee in relation to its study of relations with countries of the Muslim world during the second session of the 37th Parliament be deemed adduced by the Committee in the current session .

It was agreed, — That the Committee meet with a delegation lead by the Speaker of the Parliament of Serbia and Montenegro during the week of February 16, 2004.

It was agreed, — That Rights and Democracy be invited to appear in relation to the Commmittee's study on relations with countries of the Muslim world.

At 4:05 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.