SDEV Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 5

Thursday, December 2, 2004

The Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Development of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met at 9:02 a.m. this day, in Room 209 West Block, the Chair, David Kilgour, presiding.

Members of the Subcommittee present: Navdeep Bains, Hon. Ed Broadbent, Stockwell Day, Peter Goldring and Hon. David Kilgour.

Acting Members present: Paule Brunelle for Diane Bourgeois.

Other Members present: James Lunney.

In attendance: Parliamentary Information and Research Service: Marcus Pistor, Analyst . Library of Parliament: Marcus Pistor, Analyst.

Witnesses: Canada-Tibet Committee: Tenzin Dargyal, National Coordinator, National Office. Bahá'í Community of Canada: Suzanne Tamas, Director, Office of Governmental Relations. Falun Dafa Association of Canada: Grace Wollensak, National Coordinator; Joel Chipkar, Media Contact Person. World Sikh Organization: Ajit Singh Sahota, President. Christian Liberation Front Canada: Peter Bhatti. Evangelical Fellowship of Canada: Janet Epp Buckingham, Director, Law and Public Policy. One Free World International: Majed El Shafie, President. Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council: Amar Chakraborty, President.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Subcommittee proceeded to a briefing session on The Persecution of People of Faith.

The witnesses made statements and answered questions.

On motion of Ed Broadbent, it was agreed, — That the Subcommittee, pursuant to Evidence presented on December 2, 2004 in relation to its study on religious persecution in Tibet and the goodwill generated by the visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Ottawa last April, call upon the Government of Canada to use its friendly relations with China to urge it to enter into meaningful negotiations, without preconditions, with representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to peacefully resolve the issue of Tibet.

Stockwell Day moved, — That the ongoing International Policy Review examine ways in which the Government of Canada can make the protection and promotion of the right to freedom of religion and belief a central element of its efforts to defend human rights internationally.

Debate arose thereon.

Navdeep Bains moved, — That the motion be amended by adding immediately after the word “internationally” the following: “including in its international development assistance policy and programs; and, in particular, look at ways of making the receipt of Canadian aid conditional upon the absence of abuse of religious and other fundamental human rights”.

Debate arose thereon.

Ed Broadbent moved, — That the motion be amended by adding immediately after the word “internationally” the following: “;and, in particular, look at ways of making the receipt of Canadian aid conditional upon the absence of systematic abuse of religious and other fundamental human rights”.

After debate, it was agreed, that the motion as amended by Navdeep Bains and Ed Broadbent be agreed to, with the two amendments to be reported to the Main Standing Committee for approval on a final text.

The motion with the two amendments reads as follows:

That the ongoing International Policy Review examine ways in which the Government of Canada can make the protection and promotion of the right to freedom of religion and belief a central element of its efforts to defend human rights internationally,

a) including in its international development assistance policy and programs; and, in particular, look at ways of making the receipt of Canadian aid conditional upon the absence of abuse of religious and other fundamental human rights.

b) ; and, in particular, look at ways of making the receipt of Canadian aid conditional upon the absence of systematic abuse of religious and other fundamental human rights.

At 10:51 a.m., the Subcommittee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Georges Etoka
Clerk of the Subcommittee

2005/03/04 9:46 a.m.