FAAE Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 5

Thursday, November 29, 2007

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development met at 11:06 a.m. this day, in Room 308, West Block, the Chair, Kevin Sorenson, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Vivian Barbot, Hon. Raymond Chan, Paul Dewar, Peter Goldring, Denis Lebel, Deepak Obhrai, Bernard Patry, Kevin Sorenson, Caroline St-Hilaire and Hon. Bryon Wilfert.

Acting Members present: Daryl Kramp for Wajid Khan.

In attendance: Library of Parliament: James Lee, Analyst ; Natalie Mychajlyszyn, Analyst ; Gerald Schmitz, Principal.

Witnesses: Afghanistan Reference Group: Gerry Barr, President-Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Council for International Cooperation; Lina Holguin, Policy Director, Oxfam Quebec; Emmanuel Isch, Vice President, International and Canadian Programs, World Vision Canada; Stefan Lehmeier, Coordinator, Canadian Peacebuilding Coordinating Committee; Graeme MacQueen, Associate Professor, McMaster University; Mirwais Nahzat, Program Officer, World University Service of Canada; Gerry Ohlsen, Vice-Chair, Group of 78.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the Committee on November 20, 2007, the Committee resumed its study of Canada's mission in Afghanistan.

Gerry Barr, Lina Holguin, Emmanuel Isch and Mirwais Nahzat made statements and answered questions.

At 12:03 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:08 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Stefan Lehmeier, Graeme MacQueen and Gerry Ohlsen made statements and answered questions.

At 12:48 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:51 p.m., the sitting resumed.

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

Bryon Wilfert moved, — That the Committee invite the responsible Minister and appropriate senior officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Development concerning the status of the proposal to close up to 19 additional consulates, to appear before Committee in order to examine the rational, the cost and the implications of such a decision as well as the current Government strategy that is being applied when making the decision to close Canadian consulates.

Debate arose thereon.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 4.

At 1:07 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Angela Crandall
Clerk of the Committee

2007/11/30 9:01 a.m.