FAAE Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 27

Thursday, March 10, 2005

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met at 9:09 a.m. this day, in Room 371 West Block, the Chair, Bernard Patry, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Maurizio Bevilacqua, Francine Lalonde, Alexa McDonough, Dan McTeague, Pierre A. Paquette, Bernard Patry, Beth Phinney and Belinda Stronach.

Acting Members present: Brian Fitzpatrick for Stockwell Day, Paul Forseth for Ted Menzies, Deepak Obhrai for Stockwell Day, Bradley R. Trost for Ted Menzies, Roger Valley for Lawrence MacAulay and Maurice Vellacott for Kevin Sorenson.

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Gerald Schmitz, Principal ; James Lee, Analyst . House of Commons: Joann Garbig, Legislative Clerk.

Witnesses: Department of Foreign Affairs: Phillip J. Baines, Senior Advisor, Sciences and Technology, Non-Proliferation, Arms Control and Disarmament Division; Bruce Mann, Senior Counsel, Justice Legal Services Division; Robert McDougall, Director, Non-Proliferation, Arms Control and Disarmament Division. Department of National Defence: LCol Scott A. A. Johnson, Directorate of Space Development, Policy, Strategy and Cooperation. Canadian Space Agency: Lauren Small, Senior Manager, International Relations/Earth Observation and Environmental Affairs.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference of Tuesday, December 7, 2004, the Committee resumed consideration of Bill C-25, An Act governing the operation of remote sensing space systems.

The Committee resumed its clause-by-clause study of the Bill.

The witnesses answered questions.

On Clause 4.1,

Francine Lalonde moved, — That Bill C-25 be amended by adding after line 37 on page 3 the following new clause:

“DIRECTIVES

4.1 (1) A committee composed of the Minister of the Environment, the Minister of Natural Resources, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, the Minister of National Defence, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the President of the Canadian Space Agency and a Minister of each province, appointed by the lieutenant governor in council of the province, shall meet once a year to review the provisions and the operation of this Act.

(2) The committee may issue directives to the Minister on the operation of this Act.

(3) The directives of the committee are binding on the Minister.”

The Chair ruled the proposed amendment inadmissible because it was contrary to the principle of the Bill, as provided on page 654 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice.

Whereupon, Francine Lalonde appealed the decision of the Chair.

The question: "Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained?" was put and the decision was sustained, by a show of hands: YEAS: 4; NAYS: 3.

Clause 5 carried.

Clause 6 carried.

Clause 7 carried.

On Clause 8,

Francine Lalonde moved, — That Bill C-25, in Clause 8, be amended by replacing line 28 on page 4 with the following:

“having regard to provincial jurisdiction, national security, the defence”

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the amendment of Francine Lalonde and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 3; NAYS: 5.

Francine Lalonde moved, — That Bill C-25, in Clause 8, be amended by replacing lines 19 to 23 on page 5 with the following:

“from the system about the territory — but not including data or products that have been enhanced or to which some value has been added — be made available to every government of the country or a province of Canada that has authority over that territory within a”

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the amendment of Francine Lalonde and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 3; NAYS: 5.

Francine Lalonde moved, — That Bill C-25, in Clause 8, be amended by replacing line 37 on page 5 with the following:

“pant, a research scientist from a university or from an international and/or governmental organization in which Canada is involved, or a person to whom they may be”

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the amendment of Francine Lalonde and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 3; NAYS: 4.

Alexa McDonough moved, — That the Committee proceed to consider the next order of business.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 4.

Alexa McDonough moved, — That the Committee consider immediately Supplementary Estimates (B) for the Fiscal Year ending March 31, 2005 under Foreign Affairs and International Trade (Foreign Affairs) and Foreign Affairs and International Trade (International Trade), referred to the Committee on February 25, 2005, pursuant to Standing Order 81(5), and that appropriate Departmental officials be called to appear prior to the last day of the present Supply period.

Debate arose thereon.

Pierre A. Paquette moved, — That the motion be amended by inserting between “Committee” and “consider” the word “immediately”.

Debate arose thereon.

Belinda Stronach moved, — That the motion be amended by deleting the words “and that appropriate Departmental officials be called to appear prior to the last day of the present Supply period”.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That the amendments of Pierre A. Paquette and Belinda Stronach be considered as one question.

The question was put on the amendments and they were agreed to by a show of hands : YEAS:7; NAYS: 4

The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 4.

Pursuant to Standing Order 81(5), the Committee commenced consideration of the Supplementary Estimates (B) 2005: Votes number 1b, 10b, 15b, 20b and L25b under Foreign Affairs referred to the Committee on Friday, February 25, 2005.

The Chair called Vote 1b under Foreign Affairs.

Alexa McDonough moved, — That Vote 1b in the amount of $ 12,011,400, be reduced by $ 1.00 to $ 12,011,399.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Brian Fitzpatrick, Francine Lalonde, Alexa McDonough, Deepak Obhrai, Pierre A. Paquette, Belinda Stronach, Bradley R. Trost — 7; NAYS: Maurizio Bevilacqua, Dan McTeague — 2.

ORDERED, — That the Chair report Vote number 1b as reduced to the House.

At 12:04 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Stephen Knowles
Clerk of the Committee

2005/12/14 9:08 a.m.