FAIT Committee Meeting

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 66

Thursday, March 21, 2002

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met at 9:17 a.m. this day, in Room 308, West Block, the Chair, Jean Augustine, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Jean Augustine, George Baker, Bill Casey, John Duncan, John Harvard, Marlene Jennings, Stan Keyes, Francine Lalonde, Diane Marleau, Keith Martin, Pat O'Brien, Bernard Patry, Svend Robinson.

Acting Members present: Roy Cullen for Aileen Carroll; Larry Bagnell for Aileen Carroll; Yves Rocheleau for Pierre Paquette; Beth Phinney for Aileen Carroll.

In attendance: From the Parliamentary Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: James Lee, Gerald Schmitz, Research Officers.

Witnesses: From Amnesty International (Canada): Alex Neve, Secretary General, English Section. From the National Union of Public and General Employees: Larry Brown, National Secretary-Treasurer.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee resumed consideration of the Agenda of the 2002 G8 Summit (See Minutes of Proceedings of Tuesday, October 16, 2001).

At 9:18 a.m., Alex Neve made a statement and answered questions.

At 10:15 a.m., Larry Brown made a statement and answered questions.

At 10:55 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 10:58 a.m., the sitting resumed.

The Committee proceeded to consider its future business.

Svend Robinson moved, -- That the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade recall Mr. Alfonso Gagliano as a witness to appear with respect to his qualifications and competence to serve as Canada’s Ambassador to Denmark, in light of serious allegations of irregularities with respect to contracts awarded to Group Action Marketing Inc. during his tenure as Minister of Public Works and Government Services.

A point of order was raised as to the procedural acceptability of the motion.  The Chair ruled:

RULING BY THE CHAIR:

The motion purports to call a witness relating to his past portfolio as Minister of Public Works and Government Services.

The mandate of the Committee conferred by the Standing Order 108(2) does not extend to this Department.  I must therefore reluctantly declare the motion out of order.

Whereupon, Svend Robinson appealed the decision of the Chair.  The question was put on the decision and it was by a recorded division sustained.

YEAS

NAYS

On a motion by Svend Robinson, it was agreed, --That the Clerk provide the Committee with a chronology of the events of March 18 and 19, 2002 which resulted in the Committee receiving the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade document “Head of Mission Pre-departure Programme 2001”.

Ordered, --That the Clerk provide the Committee with a chronology of the events of March 18 and 19, 2002 which resulted in the Committee receiving the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade document “Head of Mission Pre-departure Programme 2001”.

Francine Lalonde moved, seconded by Svend Robinson, --That the Committee table by the end of April, 2002, a report, on the March 19, 2002, appearance of Alfonso Gagliano, Ambassador-designate to the Kingdom of Denmark.

After debate the question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division.

YEAS

NAYS

On a motion by Beth Phinney, it was agreed, --That the cost of $110.50 be authorized by the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade to pay for a luncheon hosted by Beth Phinney, Chair of the Sub-committee on Human Rights and International Development on January 23, 2002 for 5 persons, including Ambassador Guillaume Rishchynski, Canadian Ambassador to Colombia, Louise Crosby, desk officer for Colombia from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, James Lee, Researcher of the Sub-Committee and Elizabeth Kingston, Clerk for the Sub-committee, to discuss and make preparations for the Sub-committee’s travel to Colombia.

On a motion by Pat O’Brien, it was agreed, --That, not withstanding the Committee’s motion of February 19, 2002 (motion of Mr. O’Brien) with regard to the Sub-committee on Trade, Trade Disputes and Investments, the Committee adopt an itinerary and budget for a fact finding mission to Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica and Peru of the Sub-committee on Trade, Trade Disputes and Investments from April 28 to May 12, 2002 to examine the Free Trade Area of the Americas in view of strengthening economic relations between Canada and the Americas.

Pat O’Brien moved, --That with regard to the Committee study of the Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2003, the Minister of International Trade be invited to appear during the afternoon of April 16, 2002.

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

It was agreed, --That the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister for International Cooperation be invited to appear with regard to Committee study of the 2002-2003 Estimates during a date to be fixed in May.

On a motion by Bill Casey, it was agreed, --That the nomination of October 2, 2001 concerning the Progressive Conservative/Democratic Coalition member of the Sub-Committee on International Trade, Trade Disputes and Investment be rescinded and that Bill Casey be the Progressive Conservative/Democratic Coalition member of the Sub-Committee.

At 12:03 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Stephen Knowles

Clerk of the Committee