FAAE Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development met at 9:05 a.m. this day, in Room 701, La Promenade Building, the Chair, Kevin Sorenson, presiding.

Professor Kathleen Mahoney made a statement and answered questions.

At 10:32 a.m., Mr. Goldring took the Chair.

At 10:35 a.m., Mr. Sorenson took the Chair.

At 10:38 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 10:41 a.m., the sitting resumed.

By unanimous consent, on motion of Alexa McDonough, it was agreed, — That pursuant to Standing Order 108(1), the Committee invites the Minister of Foreign Affairs to brief Committee members on the federal government’s efforts to ratify the United Nations Covenant on the Rights and Dignity of People with Disabilities.

Alexa McDonough moved, — That pursuant to Standing Order 108(1)(a) the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development invites the Ministers of Finance and International Cooperation, the Canadian Executive Directors to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, government officials from the Department of Finance Canada and the Canadian International Development Agency, and academics and civil society organizations, to appear before this Committee within four weeks of the government’s tabling of its annual Report on Operations Under the Bretton Woods and Related Agreements Act 2005, so that Members of the Committee may evaluate Canada’s goals and recommend measures to enhance government transparency and accountability to the Canadian Parliament with respect to its activities at these institutions; and invites the Standing Committee on Finance to join the hearing.

Debate arose thereon.

On motion of Bernard Patry, it was agreed, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “within four weeks of ” with the word “after” and by deleting all the words after “2005”.

The question was put on the motion as amended and agreed to by unanimous consent.

The Chair presented the seventh Report from the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure which read as follows:

1. It was agreed, — That the Committee invite the Ministers of Defence, Foreign Affairs and CIDA to appear before the Committee as soon as possible concerning the motion agreed to on Thursday, February 1, 2007, with regard to Afghanistan;

2. It was agreed, — That the Clerk in consultation with the Chair prepare a budget to hear witnesses in relation to the motion agreed to on Thursday, February 1, 2007, with regard to Afghanistan;

3. It was agreed, — That the Committee invite the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to appear on February 27 or March 1, 2007 concerning the study on democratic development;

4. It was agreed, — That members of the Committee would meet informally with Mr. Jonas Gohr Støre, Minister of Foreign Affairs for Norway on Monday, February 26, 2007;

5. It was agreed, — That the Committee invite representatives from Mines Action Canada to give the Committee a briefing on cluster bombs on March 1, 2007 and that individuals with differing views be invited at a later date;

6. It was agreed, — That the Committee attend a lunch at the Parliamentary Restaurant Monday, March 19, 2007, with a delegation from Pakistan, lead by the Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan;

7. It was agreed, — That the Committee refer a request for a hearing on Colombia from the Canadian Council For International Co-operation (CCIC) to the Subcommittee on International Human Rights;

8. It was agreed, — That the Committee refer a request for a hearing on Uganda from GuluWalk to the Subcommittee on International Human Rights;

9. It was agreed, — That the Clerk provide the Committee with a list of all notices of motions which have been received since the beginning of the 39th Parliament but have not yet been moved.

It was agreed, — That the report be adopted.

On motion of Bernard Patry, it was agreed, — That the proposed budget in the amount of $32,300, for the period of February 19 to March 31, 2007 be adopted and that the Chair present the said budget to the Budget Subcommittee of the Liaison Committee.

At 11:05 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.