FAAE Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development met at 9:13 a.m. this day, in Room 308, West Block, the Chair, Kevin Sorenson, presiding.

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

1. It was agreed, —That the First Report of the Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development be referred back to the Subcommittee until such time as they have finished their discussions on this issue.

2. It was agreed, —That the Committee seek a legal opinion on the best course of action before considering further the Second Report of the Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development.

3. It was agreed, —That the draft report on Democratic Development be distributed to members Monday, April 23, 2007 and that the Committee meet to study the draft report on May 1st and 3rd, 2007.

4. It was agreed, —That the Committee meet with his Excellency Jaime José Matos de Gama, President of the Assembly of the Portuguese Republic on May 3rd, 2007 between 11:00 and 11:30 a.m.

5. It was agreed, —That the Committee invite Paul Meyer, Canada's Ambassador for Disarmament to appear before the Committee at the earliest opportunity.

6. It was agreed, —That the Committee invite witnesses from civil society organizations to appear concerning the annual Report on Operations Under the Bretton Woods and Related Agreements Act 2005.

It was agreed, —That the Tenth report of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be concurred in.

At 9:20 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 9:21 a.m., the sitting resumed.

Alexa McDonough moved, — That pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development invites the appropriate minister(s) and / or officials, to appear before this Committee once the government has responded to the Advisory Group Report: National Roundtables on Corporate Social Responsibility and the Canadian Extractive Industry in Developing Countries, and to present its plan for implementing the report’s recommendations.

Debate arose thereon.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

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.

Bryon Wilfert moved, — That the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade invite the Hon. Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, and the Hon. Helena Guergis, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, to appear before the Committee at the earliest opportunity to answer questions pertaining to the government’s efforts to obtain justice in the murders of Domenic and Nancy Ianeiro in Cancun, Mexico.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 2.

At 10:15 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 10:18 a.m., the sitting resumed.

The witnesses made statements and answered questions.

At 10:35 a.m., Mr. Patry took the Chair.

At 10:37 a.m., Mr. Sorenson took the Chair.

At 11:05 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.