FAIT Committee Meeting

MINUTES OF PROCEEDING
Meeting No. 1

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1997

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met at 3:35 o’clock p.m., this day, in room 269, West Block, for the purpose of electing a Chair pursuant to Standing Order 106(1) and 106(2).

Members of the Committee present: Sarkis Assadourian, Jean Augustine, Réginald Bélair, Scott Brison, John Cannis, Maud Debien, Bill Graham, Ted McWhinney, Julian Reed, Benoît Sauvageau, Bob Speller.

Acting Members present: Roger Gallaway for Colleen Beaumier; Raymond Lavigne for Denis Paradis.

Other Member present: Raymonde Folco.

In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament, James Lee, Research Officer.

The Clerk of the Committee presided over the election of a Chair.

On motion of Benoît Sauvageau and seconded by Réginald Bélair , it was agreed, -That, Bill Graham do take the Chair as Chair of the Committee.

Accordingly, Bill Graham was declared duly elected Chair of the Committee and took the Chair.

On motion of Bob Speller , it was agreed,--That Bob Mills be elected Vice-Chair of the Committee in absentia.

On motion of Roger Gallaway , it was agreed,--That Colleen Beaumier be elected Vice-Chair of the Committee in absentia.

It was agreed, --That the Chair, the Opposition Vice-Chair, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, a representative of each of the Bloc Quebecois, the New Democratic Party and the Progressive Conservative Party, and an additional representative from the Liberal Party do compose the Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure.

It was agreed, --That the Committee retain the services of one or more research officers 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 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 and, that during the questioning of witnesses, there be allocated five (5) minutes for the first questioner (of each party) 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, as established by the Board of Internal Economy and if requested, reasonable travelling, accommodation, and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses who are invited to appear before the Committee up to a maximum of two (2) representatives for any one organization.

It was agreed, -- That the Committee authorize the Chair, from time to time, as the need arises, to take in conjunction with the Clerk of the Committee, the appropriate measures to provide lunches for the Committee and its Sub-Committees, for working purposes, and that the cost of these lunches be charged to the budget of the Committee.

The Committee proceeded to discuss its future business.

It was agreed, -That the Chair, on behalf of the Committee, write to the Minister of Foreign Affairs to request that he prepare a comprehensive response to the Fifth and Seventh Reports of the Committee in the Second Session of the Thirty-Fifth Parliament relating to child labour and circumpolar cooperation respectively.

It was agreed, -That for the purpose of receiving foreign delegations in Committee, the Committee divide into two groups to be assigned to meet alternately with visiting delegations, as established in a list to be prepared by the Clerk of the Committee.

It was agreed, -That the Committee meet, in a joint meeting with the Standing Committee on National Defence, the Secretary General and Ambassadors of the North Atlantic Council on Wednesday, October 29, 1997.

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