FAAE Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 29

Thursday, March 24, 2005

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met in a televised session at 8:03 a.m. this day, in Room 237-C Centre Block, the Chair, Bernard Patry, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Maurizio Bevilacqua, Stockwell Day, Francine Lalonde, Lawrence MacAulay, Alexa McDonough, Dan McTeague, Ted Menzies, Pierre A. Paquette, Bernard Patry, Beth Phinney, Kevin Sorenson and Belinda Stronach.

Acting Members present: Mark Eyking for Lawrence MacAulay and Jack Layton for Alexa McDonough.

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

Witnesses: Department of Foreign Affairs: Robert McDougall, Director, Non-Proliferation, Arms Control and Disarmament Division; Phillip J. Baines, Senior Advisor, Sciences and Technology, Non-Proliferation, Arms Control and Disarmament Division; Bruce Mann, Senior Counsel, Justice Legal Services Division. Department of National Defence: LCol Scott A. A. Johnson, Directorate of Space Development, Policy, Strategy and Cooperation. Canadian Space Agency: Luc Brulé, Director, Earth Observation Projects, Space Programs. The World Bank Group: James Wolfensohn, President. As an Individual: Lloyd Axworthy, United Nations Special Envoy for Eritrea and Ethiopia.

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.

Robert McDougall, Phillip Baines, Bruce Mann and Luc Brulé answered questions.

Francine Lalonde moved, — That, in the context of its study of Bill C-25, An Act governing the operation of remote sensing space systems, the Canadian Space Agency and Radarsat International submit to the Committee, pursuant to Standing Order 108(1)(a), any contract linking the two organizations and that the Committee examine the said contracts prior to proceeding further with the Bill.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division:YEAS: Francine Lalonde, Alexa McDonough, Pierre A. Paquette — 3; NAYS: Maurizio Bevilacqua, Stockwell Day, Lawrence MacAulay, Dan McTeague, Ted Menzies, Beth Phinney, Kevin Sorenson — 7.

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

On Clause 16,

Alexa McDonough moved, — That Bill C-25, in Clause 16, be amended by adding after line 3 on page 13 the following:

“(3) No non-resident Canadian shall operate a remote sensing space system or a part thereof.”

Pierre A. Paquette moved, — That the amendment be amended by inserting between the word “system” and the word “or” the following: “which is in active use by the government ”

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the subamendment of Pierre A. Paquette and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 3; NAYS: 6.

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

Clause 16 carried on division.

Clause 17 carried on division.

Clause 18 carried on division.

Clause 19 carried on division.

On Clause 20,

Alexa McDonough moved, — That Bill C-25, in Clause 20, be amended by adding after line 19 on page 16 the following:

“(f.1) respecting the end-use of raw data and remote sensing products consistent with the Principles Relating to Remote Sensing of the Earth from Outer Space, Resolution 41/65 by UN General Assembly 41st Session, Adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 3, 1986;”

Debate arose thereon.

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

The Committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to Committee business.

Pursuant to Standing Orders 110 and 111, the Committee resumed consideration of the certificate of nomination of Paul Gobeil to the position of Chairperson of the Board of Director of Export Development Canada which was referred to the Committee on Wednesday, January 19, 2005.

It was agreed, — That the Committee approve the nomination of Paul Gobeil as Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Export Development Canada.

Pursuant to Standing Orders 110 and 111, the Committee resumed consideration of the certificate of nomination of Robert A. Wright to the position of President of Export Development Canada which was referred to the Committee on Monday, February 21, 2005.

It was agreed, — That the Committee approve the nomination of Robert A. Wright as President of Export Development Canada.

At 8:51 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 9:02 a.m., the sitting resumed.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the Committee on Tuesday, February 15, 2005, the Committee commenced its consideration of issues relating to The World Bank Group.

Mr. James Wolfensohn made a statement and answered questions.

At 10:08 a.m., the sitting was suspended.