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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. 87

Thursday, February 4, 1999

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met at 11:05 a.m. this day, in Room 371, West Block, the Chair, Bill Graham, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Sarkis Assadourian, Colleen Beaumier, Maud Debien, Honourable Sheila Finestone, Bill Graham, Bernard Patry, Charlie Penson, Svend Robinson, Benoît Sauvageau, Bob Speller, Daniel Turp.

In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Daniel Dupras; James Lee; Gerald Schmitz.

The Committee proceeded to examine its future business.

The Chair presented the Eighth Report of the Sub-committee on agenda and procedure which is as follows:

Your Sub-Committee met on Tuesday, February 2nd, 1999 to consider the future business of the Committee and agreed to make the following recommendations:

1) Main Estimates 1999-2000 and Performance Review

It was agreed, --That the Hon. Lloyd Axworthy, Hon. Sergio Marchi and Hon. Diane Marleau be invited on the said subjects.

2) NATO Summit in April

It was agreed, -That the Hon. Axworthy be invited on the said subject before the NATO Summit.

3) UN Security Council

It was agreed, -That the Committee examine Canada's Agenda at the Security Council and that a briefing session from the senior officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs be scheduled.

3.1 Situation in Kosovo

It was agreed, -That the Committee in a joint meeting with the Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs, examine the situation in Kosovo.

  1. 50th Anniversary of the Human Rights Declaration (meeting of December 10, 1998 which was cancelled)

    2. It was agreed, -That the matter be referred to the Sub-Committee on Human Rights and International Development.

  2. Parliamentary delegation from Estonia led by the Speaker (Tuesday, February, 16th, 1999 at 11:15 a.m.)

It was agreed, -That the Committee meet with a delegation from Estonia on Tuesday, February 16, 1999 from 11:15 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

  1. Order in Council (S.O. 110)

It was agreed, -That the Committee invite Kathleen Mahoney, Chair of the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development and at the same time Warren Allmand, Director.

  1. Mexican delegation led by the Mexican Foreign Secretary, Ms. Green. (Thursday, Feb. 18, 1999)

It was agreed, -That the Committee accept their request to meet the Members of the delegation but the meeting should be in public as per the longstanding practice of the Committee.

  1. Request from Mr. Clifford Lincoln, M.P.

    2. Third Conference of the Standing Committee of Parliamentarinas of the Arctic Region

    It was agreed, -That the Committee postpone at a later date the request from Mr. Lincoln to hold a joint meeting with the Standing Committee on Environment.

  2. Proposed Workplan

    3. The proposed workplan was considered.

  3. World Trade Organization (WTO)

    4. 10.1 The draft of the public annoncement is agreed to.

    N.B. that it is on the web site.

    It has been sent to potential witnesses by fax (Lists of the Department)

    Today will be sent as a Press Release.

    10.2 It was agreed, -That the Committee will put aside two (2) weeks to hold public hearings across Canada.

    10.3 It was agreed, -That pursuant to Standing Order 120, the Committee retain the services of Christopher Maule of Proteium Ltd., to assist the Committee in its examination of the WTO for the period of January 18 to March 31, 1999 at a daily rate of $600.00 for an amount not to exceed $15,000.00.

    10.4 It was agreed, -That pursuant to Standing Order 120, the Committee retain the services of Roy Hines to assist the Committee in its examination of the WTO for the period of 10.5 January 18 to March 31, 1999 at a daily rate of $600.00 for an amount not to exceed $10,000.00

    10.5 It was agreed, -That the Committee convene two (2) briefing sessions from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade on the WTO on the week of February 8, 1999.

    10.6 The Committee examined the document entitled Tentative Outline of Stages for the WTO Study.

  4. Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA)

    5. It was agreed, -That the Sub-Committee on International Trade, Trade Disputes and Investment examine the FTAA.

  5. Canadian Businesswomen's Trade Mission to Los Angeles

    6. It was agreed, -That the Chair make a written request to the Minister of Foreign Affairs to allow a delegation from the Sub-Committee on International Trade, Trade Disputes and Investment (Chair and two (2) members of the Opposition) to attend the Canadian Businesswomen's Trade Mission from March 7 to 10, 1999 in Los Angeles.

    It was agreed, -That, if the funds are not granted by the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Sub-Committee on International Trade, Trade Disputes and Investment seek the authorization from the Sub-Committee on the Budget ($15,100.00) and from the House.

  6. Human Rights

It was agreed, -That the Chair make a written request to the Minister of Foreign Affairs to allow a delegation from the Sub-Committee on Human Rights to participate in the activities of UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva.

  1. Benjamin A. Gillman

It was agreed, --That the Committee invite Benjamin A. Gillman, President of the Committee on International Relations of the U.S. House of Representatives.

After debate, it was agreed, that the Eighth Report of the Sub-committee on agenda and procedure be adopted as amended.

Pursuant to 48 hours notice motion adopted on Thursday, February 26, 1998, Daniel Turp moved the following motion:

I request that the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade examine the possibility for Canada to establish a North American monetary union.

At 12:17 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Richard Dupuis

Clerk of the Committee