FAAE Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development met at 3:43 p.m. this day, in Room 362, East Block, the Chair, Kevin Sorenson, presiding.

Jean-Louis Roy made a statement and, with the Nicholas Galletti, answered questions.

At 4:56 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 5:01 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Stephen Wallace and Yves Pétillon made statements and answered questions.

At 6:06 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 6:17 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Keith Martin moved, — That the Committee recommends that the government ask its representatives at the United Nations to double the number of peacekeepers for the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) and to double the amount of funding for aid operations in Eastern Congo as soon as possible.

Debate arose thereon.

Bryon Wilfert moved, — That the motion be amended to read as the following: “That the Committee, noting that the government recognizes the severity of the humanitarian crisis in the Congo, recommends that the government ask its representatives at the United Nations to press for a significant increase in the number of peacekeepers for the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) and to double the amount of funding for aid operations in Eastern Congo as soon as possible” .

Debate arose thereon.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Bryon Wilfert and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 4.

The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Diane Bourgeois, Albina Guarnieri, Keith Martin, Alexa McDonough, Bernard Patry, Caroline St-Hilaire, Bryon Wilfert — 7; NAYS: Ken Epp, Peter Goldring, Deepak Obhrai, Peter Van Loan — 4.

Keith Martin moved, — That the Committee recommends that government use existing, domestic crimes against humanity legislation to indict Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe for crimes against humanity as well as bringing forwarded a motion before the Security Council to invoke a Chapter 7 article 41 resolution against President Mugabe.

Debate arose thereon.

Keith Martin moved, — That the motion be amended to read as follows: “That the Committee recommends that government work with victims in Canada to ascertain the feasibility of using existing, domestic crimes against humanity legislation to indict Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe for crimes against humanity as well as press for a resolution at the Security Council to invoke a Chapter 7 article 41 resolution against President Mugabe and that the Minister of Justice report back to the Committee by November 15 on his efforts”.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the amendment of Keith Martin and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 4.

The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Diane Bourgeois, Albina Guarnieri, Keith Martin, Alexa McDonough, Bernard Patry, Caroline St-Hilaire — 6; ABSTENTIONS: Ken Epp, Peter Goldring, Deepak Obhrai, Peter Van Loan — 4.

Keith Martin moved, — That the Committee recommend that the government recognize that the Darfur peace agreement, signed on May 5th 2006, has already been violated by all parties numerous times.

That the African Union has admitted that it is incapable of preventing violence in the region or in protecting aid convoys from interference or attack.

That the only means in which the people of Darfur are going to be safe is through the deployment of a robust Chapter 7 peacekeeping force as soon as possible.

That the government prepare to support this mission through all diplomatic, economic and military means available. Darfour.

Debate arose thereon.

Alexa McDonough moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “all parties numerous times” with the words “its signatories” and adding the words “That this motion be tabled as a report in the House and that the government issue a response” after the words “military means available”.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the amendment of Alexa McDonough and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 4.

The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Diane Bourgeois, Albina Guarnieri, Keith Martin, Alexa McDonough, Bernard Patry, Caroline St-Hilaire — 6; NAYS: Deepak Obhrai, Peter Van Loan — 2; ABSTENTIONS: Ken Epp, Peter Goldring, — 2.

At 7:27 p.m., the Committee proceeded to sit in camera.

At 7:43 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.