FAAE Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development met at 3:51 p.m. this day, in Room 269, West Block, the Chair, Kevin Sorenson, presiding.

Ken Sunquist and Syed Sajjadur Rahman made statements and, with other witnesses, answered questions.

At 4:25 p.m. Bernard Patry took the Chair.

At 4:28 p.m. Kevin Sorenson took the Chair.

At 5:17 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 5:19 p.m., the sitting resumed.

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

Your Subcommittee met on Tuesday, April 28, 2009, to consider the business of the Committee and agreed to make the following recommendations:

1. That the Committee request a legal opinion from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and the Library of Parliament, and if necessary hire outside legal counsel, on the right of a country to repatriate a citizen whose name appears on the United Nations no-fly list under resolution 1267;

2. That the Committee send a letter to the Security Intelligence Review Committee (SIRC) requesting information concerning the status of any inquiry that SIRC may be carrying out into the role the Canadian Intelligence Security Service (CISS) may have played with regard to the situation of Abousfian Abdelrazik;

3. That the Committee seek an opinion on whether Canadian embassies are considered Canadian territory and or if the Canadian government has jurisdiction over them;

4. That Paul Dewar's motion concerning Abousfian Abdelrazik be moved to the top of the agenda under Committee Business and dealt with on Wednesday, April 29, 2009;

5. That the Committee continue its consideration of a draft report on Sri Lanka on Monday, May 4, and if necessary Wednesday, May 6, 2009;

6. That the list of witnesses submitted to the Clerk's office for the hearings concerning Africa be agreed to and that Members be allowed to submit further names;

7. That the Committee receive a briefing from the appropriate departmental officials concerning Canada's efforts in Africa on Wednesday May 13, 2009;

8. That the Committee hear from the Minister of Foreign Affairs concerning the Main Estimates on Monday, May 25, 2009;

9. That the Committee hear from the Minister of International Cooperation concerning the Main Estimates on Wednesday May 27, 2009;

10. That the Committee begin consideration of Bill C-300, An Act respecting Corporate Accountability for the Activities of Mining, Oil or Gas in Developing Countries, on May 27, 2009.

Paul Dewar moved, — That the Fifth Report of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be adopted.

Debate arose thereon.

It was agreed, — That the Fifth Report of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be amended, in paragraph 1., by adding the words: “a legal analysis from” before the words: “the Library of Parliament”; in paragraph 8., replacing the words “Monday, May 25” with the words “Wednesday May 27”; and in paragraph 10., by replacing the words “May 27” with the words “May 25”.

Jim Abbott moved, — That the Fifth Report of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be amended, in paragraph 4., by replacing the words: “on Wednesday April 29, 2009” with the words: “immediately upon receipt of the information requested in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3.”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Jim Abbott and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 6.

The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 5.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

1. That the Committee request a legal opinion from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and a legal analysis from the Library of Parliament, and if necessary hire outside legal counsel, on the right of a country to repatriate a citizen whose name appears on the United Nations no-fly list under resolution 1267;

2. That the Committee send a letter to the Security Intelligence Review Committee (SIRC) requesting information concerning the status of any inquiry that SIRC may be carrying out into the role the Canadian Intelligence Security Service (CISS) may have played with regard to the situation of Abousfian Abdelrazik;

3. That the Committee seek an opinion on whether Canadian embassies are considered Canadian territory and or if the Canadian government has jurisdiction over them;

4. That Paul Dewar's motion concerning Abousfian Abdelrazik be moved to the top of the agenda under Committee Business and dealt with on Wednesday, April 29, 2009;

5. That the Committee continue its consideration of a draft report on Sri Lanka on Monday, May 4, and if necessary Wednesday, May 6, 2009;

6. That the list of witnesses submitted to the Clerk's office for the hearings concerning Africa be agreed to and that Members be allowed to submit further names;

7. That the Committee receive a briefing from the appropriate departmental officials concerning Canada's efforts in Africa on Wednesday May 13, 2009;

8. That the Committee hear from the Minister of Foreign Affairs concerning the Main Estimates on Wednesday, May 27, 2009;

9. That the Committee hear from the Minister of International Cooperation concerning the Main Estimates on Wednesday May 27, 2009;

10. That the Committee begin consideration of Bill C-300, An Act respecting Corporate Accountability for the Activities of Mining, Oil or Gas in Developing Countries, on May 25, 2009. .

At 5:40 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.