FAAE Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 39

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development met at 9:02 a.m. this day, in Room 269, West Block, the Chair, Kevin Sorenson, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Hon. Jim Abbott, Lois Brown, Paul Dewar, Peter Goldring, James Lunney, Bernard Patry, Hon. Bob Rae and Kevin Sorenson.

Acting Members present: Diane Bourgeois for Francine Lalonde, Hon. John McKay for Glen Douglas Pearson, Andrew Saxton for Deepak Obhrai, Bev Shipley for Deepak Obhrai and Ève-Mary Thaï Thi Lac for Johanne Deschamps.

In attendance: Library of Parliament: James Lee, Analyst ; Allison Goody, Analyst.

Witnesses: Canada Pension Plan Investment Board: Donald M. Raymond, Senior Vice-President, Public Market Investments; Ian Dale, Senior Vice-President, Communications and Stakeholder Relations. Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada: Anthony Andrews, Executive Director; Bernarda Elizalde, Program Director, Sustainable Development. McMillan LLP: Robert Wisner, Partner. North-South Institute: Viviane Weitzner, Senior Researcher, Trade and Natural Resources.

Donald M. Raymond, Anthony Andrews and Robert Wisner made statements and, with Ian Dale, answered questions.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference of Wednesday, April 22, 2009, the Committee resumed consideration of Bill C-300, An Act respecting Corporate Accountability for the Activities of Mining, Oil or Gas in Developing Countries.

At 10:25 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 10:26 a.m., the sitting resumed.

Viviane Weitzner made a statement and answered questions.

At 10:47 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 10:47 a.m., the sitting resumed.

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 Committee resumed consideration of the following motion of Mr. Dewar:

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.

On motion of Bernard Patry, it was agreed, — That the Committee do now adjourn.

At 10:57 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Carmen DePape
Clerk of the Committee

2010/01/15 3:44 p.m.