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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
 
Meeting No. 26
 
Tuesday, March 8, 2005
 

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met at 9:07 a.m. this day, in Room 269 West Block, the Chair, Bernard Patry, presiding.

 

Members of the Committee present: Maurizio Bevilacqua, Stockwell Day, Francine Lalonde, Lawrence MacAulay, Alexa McDonough, Dan McTeague, Ted Menzies, Pierre A. Paquette, Bernard Patry and Belinda Stronach.

 

Acting Members present: Cheryl Gallant for Stockwell Day.

 

Associate Members present: John Cannis.

 

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Gerald Schmitz, Principal; James Lee, Analyst. House of Commons: Joann Garbig, Legislative Clerk.

 

Witnesses: Department of Foreign Affairs: Robert McDougall, Director, Non-Proliferation, Arms Control and Disarmament Division; Phillip J. Baines, Senior Advisor, Sciences and Technology, Non-Proliferation, Arms Control and Disarmament Division; Bruce Mann, Senior Counsel, Justice Legal Services Division. Department of National Defence: LCol Scott A. A. Johnson, Directorate of Space Development, Policy, Strategy and Cooperation. Canadian Space Agency: Lauren Small, Senior Manager, International Relations/Earth Observation and Environmental Affairs.

 
Pursuant to the Order of Reference of Tuesday, December 7, 2004, the Committee resumed consideration of Bill C-25, An Act governing the operation of remote sensing space systems.
 

The Committee resumed consideration of clause 2.

 

The witnesses answered questions.

 

At 9:11 a.m. by unanimous consent, the Committee proceeded to sit in camera, to consider the motion of February 22, 2005 concerning the Agreement of June 16, 2000 between the Goverments of the United States of America and the Government of Canada concerning the Operation of Commercial Remote Sensing Satellite Systems.

 

At 10:10 a.m., the Committee resumed sitting in public.

 

On Clause 2,

Alexa McDonough moved, — That Bill C-25, in Clause 2, be amended by adding after line 25 on page 1 the following:

““international obligations” means obligations relating to agreements and treaties entered into by Canada with other countries and international bodies, including the United Nations, that create legal rights and obligations, and that include but are not limited to

(a) the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (United Nations General Assembly resolution 2222 (XXI), annex);

(b) the Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space (United Nations General Assembly resolution 2345 (XXII), annex);

(c) the Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects (United Nations General Assembly resolution 2777 (XXVI), annex);

(d) the Convention on the Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space (United Nations General Assembly resolution 3235 (XXIX), annex);

(e) the Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America concerning the Operation of Commercial Remote Sensing Satellite Space Systems (with Annex) - Canada Treaty Series 2000/14;

(f) the Exchange of Notes between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America constituting an Agreement for Cooperation in the Radarsat Programme (with Memorandum of Understanding) - Canada Treaty Series 1991/50;

(g) the Charter of the United Nations - Canada Treaty Series 1945/7;

(h) the North Atlantic Treaty - Canada Treaty Series 1949/7;

(i) the Exchange of Notes between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America constituting an Agreement relating to the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) -Canada Treaty Series 1996/36;

(j) the North American Free Trade Agreement between the Government of Canada, the Government of the United Mexican States and the Government of the United States of America - Canada Treaty Series 1994/2; and

(k) the Constitution and Regulations of the International Telecommunication Union.”

Debate arose thereon.

 

On motion of Francine Lalonde, it was agreed, — That the amendment be amended in the French version only, by replacing the words “y compris ” with the word “ notamment”.

 

The question was put on the amendment of Alexa McDonough, as amended, and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 3; NAYS: 4.

 
Alexa McDonough moved, — That Bill C-25, in Clause 2, be amended by adding after line 25 on page 1 the following:

““international relations” means Canada’s relations with other countries and international bodies, as they relate to Canada’s official, declared policy on foreign affairs, defence, international development, the environment, and trade.”

Debate arose thereon.

 

The question was put on the amendment of Alexa McDonough and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 1; NAYS: 3.

 
Alexa McDonough moved, — That Bill C-25, in Clause 2, be amended by adding after line 5 on page 3 the following:

“(2) Where this Act provides that the Minister consider Canada’s conduct of international relations and Canada’s international obligations before exercising his or her authority, and where the two are inconsistent,

(a) the Minister shall not exercise the authority except in accordance with an order in council; and

(b) the Governor in Council may, by order, authorize the Minister to exercise his or her authority and set out such terms and conditions as the Governor in Council considers appropriate.”

 

The Chair ruled the proposed amendment inadmissible because it proposed a substantive amendment to the Bill by way of a modification to the interpretation clause, as provided on page 656 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice.

 

Clause 2 carried.

 

Clause 3 carried.

 

On Clause 4,

Francine Lalonde moved, — That Bill C-25, in Clause 4, be amended by deleting lines 10 and 11 on page 3.

Debate arose thereon.

 

The question was put on the amendment of Francine Lalonde and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 2; NAYS: 4.

 
Francine Lalonde moved, — That Bill C-25, in Clause 4, be amended by replacing line 21 on page 3 with the following:

“(3) The Minister may, by order, after consulting the provinces, exempt any”

Debate arose thereon.

 

The question was put on the amendment of Francine Lalonde and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 2; NAYS: 4.

 
Francine Lalonde moved, — That Bill C-25, in Clause 4, be amended by replacing line 29 on page 3 with the following:

“(a) the exemption is neither injurious to privacy, to”

Debate arose thereon.

 

The question was put on the amendment of Francine Lalonde and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 3; NAYS: 5.

 
Alexa McDonough moved, — That Bill C-25, in Clause 4, be amended by replacing line 36 on page 3 with the following:

“protection of the environment, public health, privacy”

Debate arose thereon.

 

The question was put on the amendment of Alexa McDonough and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 3; NAYS: 4.

 
Francine Lalonde moved, — That Bill C-25, in Clause 4, be amended by adding after line 37 on page 3 the following:

“(c) the interests of the provinces are protected.”

Debate arose thereon.

 

The question was put on the amendment of Francine Lalonde and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 4.

 
Pierre A. Paquette moved, — That Bill C-25, in Clause 4, be amended by adding after line 37 on page 3 the following:

“(4) Every power granted by this Act shall be exercised in accordance with the guidelines of the policy on the control of military exports of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.”

Debate arose thereon.

 

The question was put on the amendment and the result of the vote was announced: YEAS: 4; NAYS: 4.

Whereupon, the Chair voted in the negative.

Accordingly, the amendment was negatived.

 
Alexa McDonough moved, — That Bill C-25, in Clause 4, be amended by adding after line 37 on page 3 the following:

“(4) Where this Act provides that the Minister consider Canada’s conduct of international relations and Canada’s international obligations before exercising his or her authority, and where the two are inconsistent,

(a) the Minister shall not exercise the authority except in accordance with an order in council; and

(b) the Governor in Council may, by order, authorize the Minister to exercise his or her authority and set out such terms and conditions as the Governor in Council considers appropriate.”

Debate arose thereon.

 

The question was put on the amendment of Alexa McDonough and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 4; NAYS: 6.

 

Clause 4, as amended, carried.

 

At 11:02 a.m. the Committee proceeded to consider matters related to its business.

 

Ted Menzies moved, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee concur in the intention of the Subcommittee on International Trade, Trade Disputes and Investment to undertake a study on Emerging Market Trade Strategy and that a budget for travel to Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto in April 2005 and a budget for travel to Halifax and Montreal in May 2005 to conduct hearings on the study be adopted.

 

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 3.

 

At 11:05 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

 



Stephen Knowles
Clerk of the Committee

 
 
2005/03/14 2:43 p.m.