Baimawangdui made statements and answered questions.

At 4:40 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:41 p.m., the sitting resumed in camera.

Hélène Laverdière moved, — That pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development undertake a study on how Canada can better contribute to peace, security, justice, respect for human rights and economic development in the Middle East, with particular emphasis on the conflicts in Israel/Palestine, Yemen, and Syria, as well as the spheres of influence of countries in the region, such as Iran and Saudi Arabia; that the committee hear from expert witnesses and travel to the region in order to identify areas where Canada can make more positive contributions; and that it report its findings back to the House.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Hélène Laverdière — 1;

NAYS: Ziad Aboultaif, Garnett Genuis, Larry Maguire, John Oliver, Raj Saini, Jati Sidhu, Scott Simms, Arif Virani, Borys Wrzesnewskyj — 9.

At 4:47 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:47 p.m., the sitting resumed in camera.

It was agreed, — That the Nineteenth Report of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, which read as follows, be concurred in:

Your Subcommittee met on Monday, May 7, 2018, to consider the business of the Committee and agreed to make the following recommendations:

1. That the Committee proceed concurrently with studies of the situations in Somalia, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and of Canada’s sovereignty in the Arctic; and that all parties submit witness lists to the Clerk as soon as possible.

2. That the high-level travel proposal budget in the amount of $150,000 to $200,000, for the Committee’s travel in Fall-Winter 2018 in relation to its study of Canada’s sovereignty in the Arctic, be adopted and presented to the Subcommittee on Committee Budgets.

3. That the Committee invite both the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie to appear on the Main Estimates 2018-19, at their earliest convenience.

4. That the Chair make arrangements for informal meetings to be held with both the Saudi-Canadian Friendship Group and Mr. Rached Ghannouchi, President of the Tunisian Ennahdha Party, should the Committee’s schedule permit.

It was agreed, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the undertake a study on how Canada can better address the issues of conflict, peace, gender-based violence, security, justice, respect for human rights and economic development in the following countries of Africa: Somalia, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

It was agreed, — That pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee undertake a study on Canadian sovereignty in our arctic in light of Russian Militarization of their northern territories, Chinese ambitions for a polar silk road, and upcoming decisions related to the continental shelf under the United Nations Convention on Laws of Sea.

It was agreed, — That, Michael Levitt be the head of delegation during the Committee's trip to Tokyo, Japan, Seoul, South Korea and Manila, Philippines, for the study on Canada's engagement in Asia.

It was agreed, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion concerning the Committee’s travel budget to Tokyo, Japan, Seoul, South Korea and Manila, Philippines, adopted by the Committee on Thursday, March 1, 2018 the Committee be authorized to provide hospitality, working meals and gifts, as deem appropriate, during the trip.

It was agreed, — That, the Clerk of the Committee make the necessary arrangements for an informal lunch on Thursday, May 10, 2018 with a delegation from Saudi Arabia.