About
The House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development is a permanent committee established by the Standing Orders, the written rules under which the House of Commons regulates its proceedings. The Committee studies and reports on matters referred to it by the House of Commons or, under Standing Order 108 (2), topics chosen by the Committee itself. Legislation, departmental activities and spending, and other matters related to the Committee’s subject area may be referred to it by the House.
The subject area of the Committee includes matters pertaining to:
- Canadian foreign and development assistance policies and programs, including Canada’s relations with other countries and regions;
- International affairs and diplomacy, international development, international security, and international human rights, including events or crises in specific regions or countries;
- International organizations, such as:
- the United Nations;
- the World Bank;
- the International Monetary Fund;
- the Organization of American States;
- Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation;
- the G8;
- the G20;
- the North Atlantic Treaty Organization;
- the Commonwealth;
- La Francophonie; and
- the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
The major government departments and agencies under the Committee's scrutiny are:
The Committee is also empowered to study and report on the mandate, management and operation of the following autonomous agencies and Crown corporations which report to Parliament through the Minister of Foreign Affairs:
The Committee may at its discretion consider the work of any government department and agency that has an international dimension, which reflects the expansive and multifaceted nature of foreign affairs today.