FAIT Committee Meeting
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37th PARLIAMENT, 1st SESSION
Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade
EVIDENCE
CONTENTS
Thursday, April 11, 2002
| ¿ | 0915 |
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The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry (Pierrefonds--Dollard, Lib.)) |
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Ms. Francine Lalonde (Mercier, BQ) |
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The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry) |
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Ms. Francine Lalonde |
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The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry) |
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Ms. Lalonde |
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The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry) |
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Mr. John Duncan (Vancouver Island North, Canadian Alliance) |
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The Clerk of the Committee |
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The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry) |
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Ms. Francine Lalonde |
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The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry) |
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The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry) |
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Ms. Francine Lalonde |
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Mr. John Harvard (Charleswood St. James--Assiniboia, Lib.) |
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The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry) |
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Ms. Francine Lalonde |
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The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry) |
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Ms. Lalonde |
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The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry) |
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Mr. Svend Robinson (Burnaby--Douglas, NDP) |
| ¿ | 0920 |
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The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry) |
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Ms. Carroll |
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Mr. Sarkis Assadourian (Brampton Centre, Lib.) |
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The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry) |
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Mr. Assadourian |
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The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry) |
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Mrs. Marlene Jennings (Notre-Dame-de-Grâce--Lachine, Lib.) |
| ¿ | 0925 |
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The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry) |
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Mr. Pat O'Brien (London--Fanshawe, Lib.) |
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The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry) |
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Mr. Svend Robinson |
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The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry) |
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Mr. Svend Robinson |
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The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry) |
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Mr. Pat O'Brien |
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The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry) |
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Ms. Aileen Carroll |
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The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry) |
| ¿ | 0930 |
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Mr. Svend Robinson |
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Ms. Francine Lalonde |
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The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry) |
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Ms. Francine Lalonde |
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The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry) |
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Ms. Francine Lalonde |
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The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry) |
| ¿ | 0935 |
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Mr. Pat O'Brien |
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The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry) |
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Mr. Svend Robinson |
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Mr. John Harvard |
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Mr. Svend Robinson |
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The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry) |
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Ms. Paddy Torsney |
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The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry) |
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Mr. Svend Robinson |
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The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry) |
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Ms. Marlene Jennings |
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The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry) |
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Mr. Sarkis Assadourian |
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The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry) |
| ¿ | 0940 |
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Mr. Sarkis Assadourian |
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The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry) |
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Mr. Pierre Paquette (Joliette) |
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The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry) |
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Mr. Paquette |
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The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry) |
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Mr. Pat O'Brien |
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The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry) |
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Mr. Pat O'Brien |
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The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry) |
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Ms. Francine Lalonde |
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The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry) |
CANADA
Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade |
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EVIDENCE
Thursday, April 11, 2002
[Recorded by Electronic Apparatus]
¿ 
(0915)
[English]
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry (Pierrefonds--Dollard, Lib.)): Order. We want to finish as soon as possible.
You all received the order of the day for the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade. You have the agenda for this morning. There are two things. The first is on Bill C-50. After that, you have the future business of the committee.
We're going to start with item 8 on Bill C-50. Last Tuesday the subcommittee on agenda and procedure met and we passed a resolution. The resolution regarding Bill C-50 was that Bill C-50, an act to amend certain acts as a result of the accession of the People's Republic of China to the agreement establishing the World Trade Organization, be read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade. That is the motion that was passed with the subcommittee.
Are there any comments regarding Bill C-50?
[Translation]
Ms. Francine Lalonde (Mercier, BQ): Yes, excuse me. I have a problem with the minutes of the last meeting.
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): What is the problem?
Ms. Francine Lalonde: In item 2, “According to Rule 108 (2), that the Minister of Foreign Affairs be invited to appear…”
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): That will happen immediately afterwards.
Ms. Francine Lalonde: But we said that it would happen as soon as possible next week..
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): We will come back to that.
Ms. Francine Lalonde: Thank you.
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): It will be dealt with in the committee's future business. Will that be agreeable, Ms. Lalonde?
Mr. Duncan.
[English]
Mr. John Duncan (Vancouver Island North, Canadian Alliance): I'm a little confused. The fourth report says it's referred to the subcommittee, and the agenda says it's referred to the standing committee.
The Chair: The clerk will explain it to you.
The Clerk of the Committee: The bill was given second reading and referred to the committee on March 22. Therefore it is before the full committee today. The steering committee met on Tuesday, and its recommendation to the full committee was that the bill be referred to the subcommittee on trade.
[Translation]
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): Ms. Lalonde, do you agree to refer Bill C-50 to the Foreign Affairs Committee?
Ms. Francine Lalonde: Yes, but I have just found out that I will have to attend myself.
[English]
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): Okay. It's unanimous.
Some hon. members: Agreed.
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): Now we'll go to further business of the committee on agenda B.
You'll see the fourth report of the subcommittee on agenda and procedure. Your subcommittee met on Tuesday, April 9, to consider the future business of the committee, and agreed to make the following recommendations:
“Bill C-50, an act to amend certain acts as a result of the accession of the People's Republic of China to the Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, be referred to the Subcommittee on International Trade, Trade Disputes and Investment.”
Some hon. members: Agreed.
[Translation]
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): Now,
| According to Rule 108 (2), that the Minister of Foreign Affairs be invited to appear as soon as possible for the report of the Committee on the situation in the Middle East. |
Ms. Lalonde, you had a comment.
Ms. Francine Lalonde: Yes. It is more than a comment, Mr. Chairman, because we worked, I believe, a good hour and a half, especially on that question, and we had agreed to ask the Minister of Foreign Affairs to appear next week. That's what I suggested Tuesday. You said it might not be possible, so we suggested Thursday. But we had agreed that it should be as early as possible next week, so…
[English]
Mr. John Harvard (Charleswood St. James--Assiniboia, Lib.): On a point of order, Mr. Chairman, I understand the parliamentary secretary has information on that. Perhaps we should hear from the parliamentary secretary.
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): Okay. Just one second.
[Translation]
Ms. Francine Lalonde: Well, I am insisting because it is a matter of compliance with the minutes of the meeting.
[English]
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): You have a point of order. That's fine.
Madame Lalonde, are you finished?
[Translation]
Have you finished with this point?
Ms. Francine Lalonde: It is a point of order. You understand that it is not compliant...
[English]
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): That's fine.
I will hear Mr. Robinson, and after that I will go to Ms. Carroll.
Mr. Robinson.
Mr. Svend Robinson (Burnaby--Douglas, NDP): Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The committee members will recall that I gave notice of a motion that effectively urged that the minister appear at the earliest possible time on the Middle East. This came up at the steering committee. I'm pleased that the members of the steering committee were able to arrive at a consensus to support the recommendation that the minister appear at the earliest possible time.
I had to leave the meeting early, but it was my understanding it was to be next week. I believe the parliamentary secretary will confirm that. I certainly hope it will be possible for the minister to appear on Tuesday. If not, I understand that Thursday may be a possibility.
I appreciate the cooperation of members on all sides of the committee in ensuring that this important issue of the Middle East is dealt with at the earliest possible time.
¿ (0920)
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): Your comments are very well appreciated. The fact that you all left the room at that time...it was done by Madame Lalonde and the Liberal Party.
I want to let you know the Middle East is quite important to us. We agree that, even without you, this hearing is important to our caucus.
Madame Carroll, please.
Ms. Aileen Carroll (Barrie--Simcoe--Bradford, Lib.): I'm sorry, Mr. Robinson, that because you did have to leave, I didn't have the information that I have this morning. It was discussed by you and me at the side table and therefore it doesn't come to the committee right now, but I do want you to know I'm sorry I didn't have that, because I have done a full-court press on this all by myself.
Anyway, the minister has done rearranging. Tuesday is just not possible. But I have had it confirmed that on Thursday, which was my second request, he is now going to be available to the committee from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Not in any way to be an apologist, I would let the committee know that you, as members of the foreign affairs committee, knowing the situation, understand there has been a lot of shifting to enable him to do that. So that's the information I wanted to convey to you.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Sarkis Assadourian (Brampton Centre, Lib.): Mr. Chairman, can I ask a question?
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): Mr. Assadourian, you can always ask questions when it's your turn. Go ahead.
Mr. Sarkis Assadourian: I want to mention that the minister's going to be here for one hour. I think by the time the minister makes his statement and the opposition parties gets their chance to ask questions, we'll be left out. I would ask that we make different arrangements in this situation so we get the questions from the opposition for maybe five minutes. This would allow questions from all the members who want to speak. Is that possible?
A voice: We have that rule already.
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): Understand one thing. First of all, we need to see if the minister will come another time. We can try to get two hours, three hours. We try to do as much as possible. If he can come for an hour, I think it's great, and I think he'll agree with this.
We already have a motion passed in front of this committee regarding when a minister comes here. He could spend ten minutes on his introduction, and after that we'll have questions. But I hope that all the members on both sides at that time will agree that everyone should have a chance to ask questions of the minister. I think it's only fair, not just the opposition and not for the Liberal Party. But I think we can arrange things like this so that everyone will be happy.
Madam Jennings.
[Translation]
Mrs. Marlene Jennings (Notre-Dame-de-Grâce--Lachine, Lib.): I agree that we should accept to meet with the Minister next Thursday for the hour that he has available. It is unfortunate that he cannot give us more time. I suggest that, at the end of that meeting, should the Committee accept to meet him next Thursday for an hour and there is willingness by a majority of Committee members to continue the discussions, that we ask the Minister if he could meet with us again at a subsequent session.
Secondly, if the Committee accepts to meet the Minister for an hour next Thursday, I urge us all to be here on time so that the meeting can start promptly at 9 o'clock. I know that I am as guilty as my colleagues. I sometimes arrive five minutes after the appointed time for the beginning of a meeting and it is a waste of time; we waste time. When the session is scheduled for three hours, ok, but when we only have one hour, I think punctuality is even more important. As I said, I am as guilty as my colleagues. There may be some of our colleagues who are always on time, I don't know, but others, like me, are not always on time.
With regard to the possibility that the members of all the parties on this Committee have the opportunity to exchange ideas with the Minister, I was wondering—and perhaps the Clerk could inform us—whether there is a procedure in place or whether there are rules specific to this Committee that apply to this kind of situation, because if there are, we would not have to discuss them now.
¿ (0925)
[English]
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): No, that's it. I'm going to hear from Mr. O'Brien, and I'm going to close with Mr. Robinson. But to answer your question, yes, there are some rules. Those rules were accepted by this committee unanimously on January 29 of this year, and we're going to follow the rules, period.
Mr. O'Brien.
Mr. Pat O'Brien (London--Fanshawe, Lib.): Very briefly, Mr. Chair, in the two years that I chaired defence, we started at whatever the designated time was, with whoever was there, if at all possible. Maybe whoever's here in the room at one minute to nine o'clock next Thursday, myself included, would be the people who'd get to ask questions to the minister. That might be an inducement.
The other thing is, if we really only have him for an hour, I would hope that members on this side would get an opportunity, but I really do think the bulk of the time has to go to the opposition members. We have access in caucus that they don't have. I would hope they would agree collegially that we would get a chance too, but they don't have the same access.
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): To close on this subject, Mr. Robinson.
Mr. Svend Robinson: Mr. Chair, I want to thank Pat for those comments, because of course that is the case, and we do have an established rotation. My understanding is that when a minister is present, it's recognized that, especially when it's on a complex and important subject such as the Middle East, the initial round with the minister is ten minutes, and I believe we go to the Liberal side after the official opposition and the Bloc. So there will be a representative of the Liberal side, and then we come to the New Democratic Party, and then to the Conservative Party. I believe that's the rotation that has been established.
Also, I want to back up the point that Ms. Jennings made. I very much appreciate the fact that the minister is making himself available for one hour next Thursday, but certainly, again given the importance of this issue, I would hope that the parliamentary secretary would not wait until next Thursday, but could indicate to the minister that if he could look at the following week...
Pardon me? Yes, he's coming on the G-8.
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): I understand, Mr. Robinson. I think we've done a lot of work on this. If everyone agrees, he'll come next Thursday at nine o'clock, from nine o'clock until ten o'clock, and after that we'll have the possibility of meeting with the minister on the G-8 and also on the estimates. That means he'll be in front of us at least three times in the next month. I think that's quite--
Mr. Svend Robinson: When is he coming on the estimates, then?
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): It's on the list. It's on the planning schedule.
Okay, is everyone agreed that the Minister of Foreign Affairs appear in front of the committee next Thursday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.? Fine.
Mr. John Harvard: Is the rule five or ten minutes?
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): It's ten minutes, Mr. Harvard.
Go ahead with a question, Mr. O'Brien, then Ms. Carroll.
Mr. Pat O'Brien: If I might, this committee is incredibly busy already, but I do want to at least float the idea that as this terrible Middle East situation just dominates everything, we can ask for regular briefings, if we want, as a committee. It doesn't just have to be the minister. We all remember that we did this when the Kosovo situation was on. I think we held twice-weekly briefings, joint briefings of the defence committee that I chaired, with the current Minister of Foreign Affairs chairing this committee.
So maybe the members ought to at least keep that in mind, that at some point we may want to request regular presence of officials. It doesn't just have to be the minister personally.
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): Okay, fine.
Ms. Carroll.
Ms. Aileen Carroll: As usual, Mr. O'Brien has read my mind. I was just going to ask whether or not, given that we have the minister for an hour, it was the desire of the committee that, when he finishes and has to leave, we have officials come in for the second hour. But that's certainly up to the committee.
Mr. Sarkis Assadourian: Let's have it one hour and see what happens.
Ms. Aileen Carroll: All right.
[Translation]
If everyone agrees to next week, I will consider the following week.
[English]
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): Just a second, please. I'm checking with the clerk about Ms. Carroll's remarks and the fact that next Thursday we'd probably have a possible... If you have all your planning, next Thursday we plan to have possible committee consideration of Bill C-50, the WTO bill, and I think it could be possible, if it's going well with that, that we could meet with high officials, and there would be no problem--after 10 o'clock or something like that. We could arrange that.
Mr. Robinson, and then Madame Lalonde.
¿ (0930)
Mr. Svend Robinson: Ms. Carroll has suggested that we might get some officials. I think it's all well and good to get officials, but there is another minister who is involved in this area, the secretary of state for the Middle East, Mr. Knutson, I believe. He has responsibility in this area, and I would suggest that we invite him the following week, with officials, to come and follow up. That would be an opportunity for us to hear from him as well.
Ms. Marlene Jennings: The following week?
Mr. Svend Robinson: Yes, the following week. He is the secretary of state.
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): [Editor's Note: Inaudible] ...and we'll have him next Thursday.
[Translation]
Ms. Lalonde.
Ms. Francine Lalonde: I would like to be sure, Mr. Chairman, that the report will be amended to ensure that what was adopted last Tuesday is included in the report we will file. It is just to settle on how we will proceed.
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry):
If I understand Ms. Lalonde's argument, she wishes to revise the Fourth Report of the Subcommittee on agenda and procedure, paragraph 3, which reads as follows:
| According to Rule 108 (2), that the Minister of Foreign Affairs be invited to appear as soon as possible for the report of the Committee on the situation in the Middle East. |
You would like to have it read:“next week.”
Ms. Francine Lalonde: It must be clear that, when we meet, the reports reflect what was said.
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): I have no objections in this regard since the Minister will come next week. Do we have a unanimous agreement to amend the Fourth Report of the Subcommittee on agenda and procedure, third paragraph to read “next week”?
[English]
(Motion agreed to)
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): Now we'll go on the fourth paragraph: that the committee's motion of February 19, 2002, relating to public hearings in western Canada and Ontario on the studies of the North American relationship and the agenda for the June 2002 G-8 summit be amended to strike out the words “April 7 to 12, 2002” and substituting therefor “May 6 to 10, 2002”.
Madame Lalonde.
[Translation]
Ms. Francine Lalonde: The Subcommittee had an interesting discussion and, since we have the full Committee here today, I wanted to draw attention during this stormy meeting—it has already happened, and may happen again—if I had been able to state my proposal, as I had tried to twice, I would have proposed that the Committee sit in Ontario and out West this week. We could have postponed our workload by only a week.
I understand that the discussion was heate —it was for everyone—but could I humbly suggest that even when it is heated, we, the opposition—I think I can say we; it happens to each of us—be listened to with respect, even if it is a major disagreement, especially since we know that generally it is the majority on the Committee that decides. There are still a few points where the opposition has real power and it seems to me that it is important, to that extent, to negotiate with each other. There are so few times when we can do this, I repeat with all due respect.
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): Thank you, Ms. Lalonde.
[English]
(Motion agreed to)
Mr. John Harvard: What's the amendment?
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): The amendment was to change the dates of the trip out west to between May 6 and 10.
The next one is that the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of International Cooperation be invited to appear at meetings to consider the estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2003, referred to the committee on February 28, 2002, during dates to be determined during the week of May 21 or May 27, 2002.
(Motion agreed to)
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): Fine. Next is that the committee review at an opportune time past and future business in relation to its studies on the North American relationship and on the G-8 summit agenda, including the possibility of inviting the ambassadors of certain African countries to appear.
(Motion agreed to)
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): Now, do you agree that the fourth report of the subcommittee on agenda and procedure be adopted as amended?
(Motion agreed to)
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): Fine. Anything else? Yes, Mr. O'Brien.
¿ (0935)
Mr. Pat O'Brien: I wondered about Mr. Robinson's earlier suggestion about the secretary of state, whose actual title is Secretary of State for Central and Eastern Europe and Middle East. I think that has a lot of logic and merit to it, and I know Mr. Knutson would try to be available too. So did we come to any sort of decision about that?
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): There was no decision. I think we need to try to get out as many as possible of the ministers. And which way it's going to be done, whether it's going to be done with high officials or it's going to be done alone, I cannot say. But we are going to go further to try to have Mr. Knutson also.
Mr. Robinson.
Mr. Svend Robinson: I had just suggested that Ms. Carroll, as the parliamentary secretary, explore with Mr. Knutson the possibility he might appear with officials the following week. Perhaps if she could do that, that would be helpful. He does have responsibility for that region.
Mr. John Harvard: Have we not already asked him?
A voice: No, we didn't.
Mr. John Harvard: Where would there be room on our schedule in the next week?
Mr. Svend Robinson: There are a number of possible slots, John. We can see when he's available.
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): You have your planning dates for this year.
I just want to remind you that at 11 o'clock this morning in this room the Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Development meets with two opposition MPs from Zimbabwe. Any MPs who would like to come and meet those MPs are welcome.
The clerk has planned all the dates in the next few weeks and months. The meeting with the Foreign Affairs Committee of Croatia on Tuesday, April 30, was cancelled yesterday by the Croatian government. They're not coming. I just wanted to let you know about that.
The last thing the clerk just mentioned to me is our travel to the west and Ontario for hearings on the G-8 from May 6 to 10. That travel has not yet been authorized by the House. The steps involved in authorizing committee travel are the committee develops a travel plan and a budget; the budget goes to the budget subcommittee of the Liaison Committee for approval; the approved budget and a draft motion goes to the House leaders; the House leaders approve travel at the regular Tuesday meeting; the government House leader presents a motion in the House and requests unanimous consent; and the House adopts the motion. That's the procedure. I just wanted to let you know that it has not yet been approved, but we approved it in our committee.
Are there any other matters this morning? Ms. Torsney.
Ms. Paddy Torsney: Just on that matter of your travel, I would encourage all members of the different parties to talk to their House leader if you really want to get your travel on schedule. There's a big backlog, and different things have been happening to different committees. It's really important that the members of the committee emphasize the importance of the trip to their own House leader if you wish to be successful.
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): Thank you, Ms. Torsney, for the remarks.
Mr. Robinson.
Mr. Svend Robinson: Under new business, Mr. Chairman, I just wanted to give the committee notice that some time ago I gave notice of a motion on the subject of the Armenian genocide. I now want to give members of the committee notice that I will be asking that this motion be considered on Tuesday, April 23, which is the day before the Armenian genocide is commemorated here in Ottawa. So I will be proceeding with that motion on April 23, and I just wanted to inform all members of that. Perhaps the clerk might recirculate a copy of the motion to members.
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): I think it will be necessary to recirculate it. I don't remember it. But you just gave notice this morning, and that's fine.
Ms. Marlene Jennings: So we can look forward to receiving a copy of that from the clerk.
[Translation]
Please do it as soon as possible.
[English]
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): Yes.
Mr. Assadourian.
Mr. Sarkis Assadourian: Is Mr. Robinson going to present this motion?
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): Yes.
¿ (0940)
Mr. Sarkis Assadourian: I don't have a copy.
A voice: The clerk is going to send us a copy.
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): I just want to remind you also, as the clerk just pointed out to me, that the trip to South America from April 29 to May 10 that is being planned for the Subcommittee on International Trade, Trade Disputes and Investment has not yet been approved. It was accepted by this committee. We're still waiting for a yes or no from the House leaders and through all the steps I just outlined for you.
[Translation]
Mr. Paquette.
Mr. Pierre Paquette (Joliette): Actually, I would like to take the opportunity of your mentioning it because in the planning that we have already adopted for the week of April 29, the Subcommittee was to have filed its report to the full Committee, but the latter will not be there.
[English]
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): But I think it could be done by the chair of the large committee. That's a subcommittee. At that time, we'll discuss it with the clerk. According to the rules, this could be deposited by the chair of this committee.
[Translation]
Mr. Pierre Paquette: It is a rather important dossier. In any case, I hope that if there were to be some extended discussions, we might be able to postpone…
[English]
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): That's fine. We'll take your remarks into consideration.
Is there anything else? Mr. O'Brien.
Mr. Pat O'Brien: Mr. Chair, this is just on the subcommittee trip. Some of us are on that subcommittee. Given the wide-ranging study the subcommittee is involved with and the reports we're seeking to produce, it's very important that we actually go to these countries and include that experience in our reports. Is there a hold-up? I guess I'm appealing to my colleagues on the other side to talk to their House leaders and encourage that this trip be approved, because it's quite an important part of our study.
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): Just to answer, Mr. O'Brien, you see the six steps for the authorization for a committee to travel. I understand the second step is going to be discussed today at one o'clock. We'll know by this afternoon. You can call the clerk back to see if it will be accepted. If it's not accepted by the budget of the Liaison Committee at that time, there's no way it's going to go further. But it will be discussed today, just to let you know.
Mr. Pat O'Brien: Thanks. I appreciate that, Mr. Chairman. Maybe I can appeal to our colleagues to discuss it today with their relevant colleagues and their parties, before that meeting.
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): C'est tout pour ce matin. I thank you very much, everyone.
Mr. Day, thank you very much for being here with us.
Are there any last comments?
[Translation]
Ms. Francine Lalonde: Tuesday, we agreed that we would take advantage of the hour we had left to discuss the work we have already done during the trip to the United States and Mexico and the hearings held in the Maritimes. I was sure that the notice of meeting had been duly sent, but apparently it has not. We had really said that; we had agreed on it.
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): Next Tuesday?
Ms. Francine Lalonde:We had talked about the need to take the time to review the work already done for the G-8 and for continental integration. We were to have done that this morning after adopting the report. Nous nous étions entendus là-dessus mardi, but the notice of that meeting was not sent.
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry): Ms. Lalonde, I will look into that with the Clerk.
Ms. Francine Lalonde:Thank you, Mr. Chairman, but we will have to settle this.
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry)Indeed.
Ms. Francine Lalonde: When we agree on something, it must happen. Otherwise, I will not come back to the Subcommittee meetings if it is of no use.
The Vice-Chair (Mr. Bernard Patry):I know. I want to see you here. You are always welcome, you know that.
Thank you very much. The meeting is adjourned.