CIIT Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on International Trade met at 3:38 p.m. this day, in Room 371, West Block, the Chair, Lee Richardson, presiding.

On motion of Sukh Dhaliwal, it was agreed, — That the proposed operational budget for the study of the Proposed Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement in the amount of $39,550 for the period of 2007 to 2008 be adopted.

Peter Julian moved, — That the Committee report to the House recommending to the Government of Canada:

• that current Canada-Colombia bilateral trade negotiations and eventual ratification be halted in light of the ongoing abuse of human rights by Colombia’s government; and

• that Canada develop a framework for a human rights impact assessment (HRIA) for future bilateral trade negotiations with Colombia; and furthermore that the Committee conduct hearings to assess how a human rights and environmental impact assessment framework can be incorporated into future Canada-Colombia bilateral trade negotiations.

Debate arose thereon.

Brian Pallister moved, — That the motion be amended by deleting the words “that current Canada-Colombia bilateral trade negotiations and eventual ratification be halted in light of the ongoing abuse of human rights by Colombia’s government; and”.

Debate arose thereon.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Brian Pallister and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 4; NAYS: 7.

Peter Julian moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “future Canada-Colombia bilateral trade negotiations” the words “that the Minister of International Trade be called to testify before the Committee on how human rights concerns are being addressed in current bilateral trade negotiations with particular reference to the Canada-Columbia bilateral negotiations”.

Debate arose thereon.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Peter Julian and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 4.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 3; NAYS: 8.

Navdeep Bains moved, — That the Minister of International Trade and other appropriate witnesses be called forthwith to testify before the Committee on how environmental impacts and human rights concerns are being addressed in current bilateral trade negotiations with particular reference to the Canada-Columbia bilateral negotiations.

Debate arose thereon.

Peter Julian moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the word “forthwith” with the words “on Thursday November 29th, 2007”.

Debate arose thereon.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Peter Julian and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 1; NAYS: 10.

Serge Cardin moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the word “That” the following: “the Comittee recommends that no ratification of the bilateral trade agreement between Canada and Columbia be signed until” and adding after the words “Canada-Colombia bilateral negotiations” the words “And that, if the Minister is unable to demonstrate that human rights are being protected, the government end negotiations with Colombia”.

Debate arose thereon.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Serge Cardin and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 3; NAYS: 7.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Dean Allison, Navdeep Bains, Ron Cannan, John Maloney, Larry Miller, Lui Temelkovski — 6; NAYS: Guy André, Serge Cardin, Peter Julian — 3.

At 5:19 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 5:20 p.m., the sitting resumed in camera.

The Committee resumed consideration of a draft report.

At 5:36 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.