FAAE Committee Meeting

Notices of Meeting include information about the subject matter to be examined by the committee and date, time and place of the meeting, as well as a list of any witnesses scheduled to appear. The Evidence is the edited and revised transcript of what is said before a committee. The Minutes of Proceedings are the official record of the business conducted by the committee at a sitting.

For an advanced search, use Publication Search tool.

If you have any questions or comments regarding the accessibility of this publication, please contact us at accessible@parl.gc.ca.

Previous day publication Next day publication

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 49

Monday, March 7, 2011

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development met at 3:31 p.m. this day, in Room 268, La Promenade Building, the Chair, Dean Allison, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Dean Allison, Johanne Deschamps, Paul Dewar, Jean Dorion, Peter Goldring, James Lunney, Deepak Obhrai, Bernard Patry, Glen Douglas Pearson, Hon. Bob Rae and Dave Van Kesteren.

Acting Members present: Joe Preston for Lois Brown and Mike Wallace for Lois Brown.

In attendance: House of Commons: Monique Hamilton, Legislative Clerk . Library of Parliament: Allison Goody, Analyst ; James Lee, Analyst ; Erin Shaw, Analyst.

Appearing: Hon. Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Hon. Rob Nicholson, Minister of Justice.

Witnesses: Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade: Alan H. Kessel, Legal Adviser; Sabine Nölke, Director, United Nations, Human Rights and Economic Law Division; Hugh Adsett, Director, Criminal, Security and Diplomatic Law Division; Louis-Martin Aumais, Deputy Director, Criminal, Security and Privileges and Immunities Law Section. Department of Justice Canada: Erin McKey, Senior Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section. As an individual: René Magloire, Special Advisor to the President of Haiti, Legal Affairs.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference of Thursday, March 3, 2011, the Committee commenced consideration of Bill C-61, An Act to provide for the taking of restrictive measures in respect of the property of officials and former officials of foreign states and of their family members.

The Ministers made statements and, with Alan H. Kessel, Sabine Nölke, Erin McKey and Louis-Martin Aumais, answered questions.

At 4:37 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:40 p.m., the sitting resumed.

The Committee commenced its clause-by-clause study of the Bill.

Pursuant to Standing Order 75(1), consideration of Clause 1 was postponed.

The Chair called Clause 2.

After debate, by unanimous consent, Clauses 2 to 19 inclusive carried.

On New Clause 20,

Jean Dorion moved, — That Bill C-61 be amended by adding after line 45 on page 8 the following new clause:

“REVIEW AND REPORT

20. (1) Within five years after this section comes into force, a comprehensive review of the provisions and operation of this Act must be undertaken by such committee of the Senate and of the House of Commons as may be designated or established by the Senate and the House of Commons for that purpose.

(2) The committees referred to in subsection (1) must, within a year after a review is undertaken pursuant to that subsection or within such further time as may be authorized by the Senate or the House of Commons, as the case may be, submit a report on the review to Parliament, including a statement of any changes that the committees recommend.”

Debate arose thereon.

By unanimous consent, Jean Dorion moved, — That the amendment be amended by replacing the word “five” with the word “three”

After debate, the question was put on the subamendment of Jean Dorion and it was negatived.

Bob Rae moved, — That the amendment be amended by adding after the word “operation of this Act” the following:

“and of the United Nations Act, the Special Economic Measures Act and the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act”

After debate, by unanimous consent, the subamendment was withdrawn.

Bob Rae moved, — That the amendment be amended by adding after the words “operation of this Act” the following:“and of the Special Economic Measures Act”

After debate, the question was put on the subamendment of Bob Rae and it was agreed to.

The Committee resumed consideration of the amendment of Jean Dorion, as amended, — That Bill C-61 be amended by adding after line 45 on page 8 the following new clause:

“REVIEW AND REPORT

20. (1) Within five years after this section comes into force, a comprehensive review of the provisions and operation of this Act and of the Special Economic Measures Act must be undertaken by such committee of the Senate and of the House of Commons as may be designated or established by the Senate and the House of Commons for that purpose.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Jean Dorion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

On Short Title,

Bob Rae moved, — That Bill C-61, in the short title, be amended by replacing line 5 on page 1 with the following:

“Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Bob Rae and it was agreed to.

The Short Title, as amended, carried.

The Title carried.

The Bill, as amended, carried.

ORDERED, — That the Chair report the Bill, as amended, to the House.

ORDERED, — That Bill C-61, as amended, be reprinted for the use of the House at report stage.

At 5:11 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 5:16 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the Committee on Thursday, December 2, 2010, the Committee resumed its study of Canadian and international disaster response and the situation in Haiti.

René Magloire made a statement and answered questions.

At 5:51 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Carmen DePape
Clerk of the Committee

2011/03/09 1:25 p.m.