AFGH Committee Meeting

The Special Committee on the Canadian Mission in Afghanistan met at 9:01 a.m. this day, in Room 269, West Block, for the purpose of electing a Chair, pursuant to Standing Order 106(1).

On motion of Laurie Hawn, it was agreed, — That Kevin Sorenson be elected Chair of the Committee.

By unanimous consent, the Clerk of the Committee presided over the election of the Vice-Chair.

On motion of Ujjal Dosanjh, it was agreed, — That Bryon Wilfert be elected Vice-Chair of the Committee.

Kevin Sorenson took the Chair.

It was agreed, — That meetings of the Committee be held on Wednesday afternoons from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

On motion of Laurie Hawn, it was agreed, — That the Committee adopt in the current session the following routine motions that were in effect at the time of prorogation of the previous session:

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

That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute to the members of the Committee only documents that are available in both official languages and, that the practice of the Committee will be that unless there are exceptional circumstances, all written material will be distributed to Committee members 24 hours prior to a meeting.

That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the Committee and its subcommittees.

That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses not exceeding two (2) representatives per organization and that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the Chair.

That, unless otherwise ordered, each Committee member be allowed to be accompanied by one staff person at in camera meetings and that a representative of the Whip’s office of each party be allowed to attend in camera meetings.

That one copy of the transcript of each in camera meeting be kept in the Committee Clerk’s office for consultation by members of the Committee.

That 48 hours’ notice be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the Committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration and that the notice of motion be filed with the Clerk of the Committee and distributed to members in both official languages.

That, at the discretion of the Chair, witnesses be given ten (10) minutes to make their opening statement;

That, at the discretion of the Chair, during the questioning of witnesses the time allocated to each party be as follows:

1st round (7 minutes each)

— Liberal

— Bloc Québécois

— Conservative

— New Democratic Party (NDP)

2nd round (5 minutes each)

— Conservative

— Liberal

— Conservative

— Bloc Québécois

— Conservative

— Liberal

— Conservative

— NDP;

That, if there is a 3rd round of questioning, the Committee will revert to the same order as in the second round; and

That, when a Minister is in attendance, the order and time allocation for questioning witnesses be the same as above, with the exception that in the first round of questioning, ten (10) minutes be allocated to each party.

That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Chair and one (1) representative of each party.

It was agreed, — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure meet on Monday, March 15, 2010, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Jack Harris moved, — That the Committee undertake a study on the transfer of Afghan detainees from Canadian authorities to the Afghan authorities and report its findings and recommendations to the House of Commons and that, pursuant to Order made by the House on Wednesday, March 3, 2010, the evidence and documentation received by the Committee during the 2nd Session of the 40th Parliament be taken into consideration by the Committee in this session.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 0.

Laurie Hawn moved, — That this Committee request that Justice Iacobucci review the release of documents and information from the Privy Council Office, the Departments of Foreign Affairs and National Defence, and other relevant documents from 2001-2005, regarding Taliban detainee policy; and especially documents prepared by Eileen Olexiuk while she was employed by the Department of Foreign Affairs in Afghanistan.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 6.

At 9:39 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.