FAIT Committee Meeting

Meeting No. 1

Thursday, October 21, 1999

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met at 9:30 a.m. this day, in Room 536, Wellington Building.

Members of the Committee present: Sarkis Assadourian, Jean Augustine, André Bachand, Colleen Beaumier, Maud Debien, Bill Graham, Francine Lalonde, The Hon. Diane Marleau, Ted McWhinney, The Hon. Fred Mifflin, Bob Mills, Deepak Obhrai, Denis Paradis, Bernard Patry, Svend Robinson, Yves Rocheleau, Bob Speller, Darrel Stinson.

Acting Members present: Pauline Picard for Yves Rocheleau; Lee Morrison for Deepak Obhrai.

Associate Member present: Eleni Bakopanos.

In attendance: From the Parliamentary Resarch Branch of the Library of Parliament: James Lee, Gerald Schmitz, Daniel Dupras and Dan Shaw, Research Officers.

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

On motion of Bernard Patry and seconded by André Bachand , 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 Ted McWhinney, it was agreed,--That Colleen Beaumier be elected Vice-Chair of the Committee.

On motion of Darrel Stinson, it was agreed,--That Deepak Obhrai be elected Vice-Chair of the Committee in absentia.

It was agreed, --That the Chair, the Vice-Chairs, 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 two (2) additional representatives from the Liberal Party do compose the Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure.

On motion of Ted McWhinney, 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.

On motion of Sarkis Assadourian, 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 ten (10) minutes for the first questioner (of each party) when a Minister appears before the Committee and five (5) minutes for other meetings 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.

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 pursuant to Standing Orders 108(1) and 108(2), a Sub-Committee on Human Rights and International Development to be chaired by Colleen Beaumier be established to inquire into matters relating to the promotion of respect for international human rights and the achievement of sustainable human development goals, as may be referred to it by the Committee; that the Sub-Committee be composed of nine (9) members or associate members of which five (5) shall be government members and four (4) shall be opposition members, to be named following the usual consultations with the Whips; and that the Sub-Committee be empowered to send for persons, papers and records, to receive evidence, to sit no more than once a week, unless otherwise authorized by the Committee, during a time when the Committee is not sitting and to sit during periods when the House stands adjourned.

It was agreed, --That pursuant to Standing Order 108(1) and 108(2), a Sub-Committee on International Trade, Trade Disputes and Investment, to be chaired by Sarmite Bulte, be established to inquire into Canada’s trade and investment relations and in particular any matters pertaining to the negotiation and implementation of international agreements, as may be referred to it by the Committee; that the Sub-Committee be composed of nine (9) members or associate members of which five (5) shall be government members and four (4) shall be opposition members, to be named following the usual consultations with Whips; and that the Sub-Committee be empowered to send for persons, papers and records, to receive evidence, to sit no more than once a week, unless otherwise authorized by the Committee, during a time when the Committee is not sitting and to sit during periods when the House stands adjourned.

It was agreed, --That pursuant to Standing Order 108(1)(a), the evidence taken by the Sub-Committee on International Trade, Trade Disputes and Investment and the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade in relations to its study of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) during the First Session of the present Parliament, be deemed adduced by the Committee and the Sub-Committee in the current session.

It was agreed, --That the Committee be authorized to purchase gifts to be presented to foreign hosts while travelling and as well to present from time to time when visited by foreign delegations in Ottawa.

It was agreed, -- That unless there is unanimous consent, twenty-four (24) hours notice must be given to the Members of the Committee before any new item of business is considered by the Committee.

At 10:08 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Janice Hilchie

Clerk of the Committee