FAIT Committee Meeting
Notices of Meeting include information about the subject matter to be examined by the committee and date, time and place of the meeting, as well as a list of any witnesses scheduled to appear. The Evidence is the edited and revised transcript of what is said before a committee. The Minutes of Proceedings are the official record of the business conducted by the committee at a sitting.
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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Meeting No. 56
THURSDAY, MAY 28, 1998
The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met at 9:08 o’clock a.m., this day, in Room 371 of the West Block , the Chair, Bill Graham, presiding.
Members of the Committee present: Sarkis Assadourian, Jean Augustine, André Bachand, Colleen Beaumier, Maud Debien, Raymonde Folco, Bill Graham, Gurmant Grewal, Denis Paradis, Julian Reed, Benoît Sauvageau.
Acting Members present: Bill Blaikie for Svend Robinson; Derrek Konrad for Charlie Penson.
In attendance: From the Parliamentary Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Gerald Schmitz, Research Officer.
Appearing: Honourable Sergio Marchi, Minister of International Trade.
Witnesses: From the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade: Robert G. Wright, Deputy Minister for International Trade; Lucie Edwards, Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Services.
Pursuant to Standing Order 81(4), and the Orders of the House of February 26, 1998 and March 25, 1998, the Committee proceeded to examine the Main Estimates 1998-1999 and the Report on Plans and Priorities for International Trade (Sessional Paper No. 8520-361-113).
The Chair called Votes 1, 5 and 10.
At 9:10 o’clock a.m., the sitting was suspended.
At 9:23 o’clock a.m., the sitting resumed.
The Minister made an opening statement and, with the Departmental officials, answered questions.
Raymonde Folco moved, --That whereas the Government of Pakistan has taken the deeply regrettable step of exploding nuclear devices, notwithstanding the strong representations made by Canada and other countries for Pakistan to exercise restraint;
Whereas this unfortunate action introduces an extremely dangerous new dynamic that threatens to destroy progress on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament and puts at risk global peace and security,
The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade strongly condemns the action of the Government of Pakistan in conducting nuclear explosions, as well as the earlier nuclear tests by India, and urges the Government of Canada to respond rapidly in the firmest possible terms in order to arrest this dangerous escalation and preserve Canada’s strongly-held objectives on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was agreed to.
At 11:23 o’clock a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
Janice Hilchie
Clerk of the Committee