FAAE Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development met at 3:35 p.m. this day, in Room 705, La Promenade Building, for the purposed of electing a Chair, pursuant to Standing Order 106(1).

On motion of Peter Goldring, it was agreed, — That Kevin Sorenson be elected Chair of the Committee.

The Clerk of the Committee presided over the election of the Vice-Chairs.

On motion of Keith Martin, it was agreed, — That Bernard Patry be elected Official Opposition Vice-Chair of the Committee.

On motion of Diane Bourgeois, it was agreed, — That Francine Lalonde be elected Opposition Vice-Chair of the Committee.

The Chair presented the Third Report from the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure which read as follows:

1. That the Committee meet Tuesdays rather than Mondays commencing on Tuesday, October 17, 2006.

2. That the Committee commence its Study on Democratic Development and move forward with its plan to travel to the Nordic countries from October 7 -14, 2006.

3. That the Committee meet Monday, September 25, 2006 to discuss a Draft Report on Haiti.

4. That the Minister of National Defence, Gordon O’Connor, be invited to appear before the Committee on September 27, 2006, concerning Afghanistan.

5. That the Committee set aside some time immediately after the break week in October, to look at the situation in Afghanistan and that the Clerk investigate the possibility of holding periodic joint meetings with the Standing Committee on National Defence, to receive updates from the Department concerning ongoing activities in Afghanistan.

6. That the Committee invite witnesses to appear on the Study on Democratic Development beginning with the Minister of Foreign Affairs on September 27, 2006.

7. That a proposed budget for the Study on Democratic Development, in the amount of $ 35, 600, be adopted and that the Chair present the said budget to the Budget Subcommittee of the Liaison Committee.

8. That the Committee invite the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of International Cooperation to appear on its Study of the Estimates the first week of November 2006.

On motion of Keith Martin, it was agreed, — That the draft report be amended, in paragraph 4, by replacing the words “on September 27, 2006” with the following: “as soon as possible”.

It was agreed, — That the report be amended by adding after paragraph 8 the following: “That the Committee Study Bill C-293 in a timely manner and report it back to the House”.

On motion of Peter Van Loan, it was agreed, — That the report, as amended, be adopted.

It was agreed, — That the Committee send a card to Francine Lalonde.

It was agreed, — That the Committee would meet from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 27, 2006, to hear from the Minister of Foreign Affairs concerning the Committee's Study on Democratic Development, and the Committee adjourn once they have finished questioning the Minister.

It was agreed, — That the proposed budget in the amount of $ 35, 600, for the study on Democratic Development be adopted and that the Chair present the said budget to the Budget Subcommittee of the Liaison Committee.

It was agreed, — That the Committee proceed to sit in camera to study a draft report on Haiti.

At 4:11 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:15 p.m., the Committee resumed sitting in camera.

At 5:35 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.