About
The subject area of the Committee includes matters pertaining to:
- Canadian foreign policy;
- Canada's humanitarian and development assistance;
- Canada's relations with other countries and regions, and its response to specific international events or crises;
- International relations, international development, international security, and international human rights;
- Global governance, including the role and activities of international and regional organizations.
The government department under the Committee's scrutiny is:
The Committee is also empowered to study and report on the mandate, management and operation of the following autonomous agencies and Crown Corporation which report to Parliament through the Minister of Foreign Affairs:
Roosevelt Campobello International Park Commission When examining legislation or undertaking a study, the Committee may hear from a variety of witnesses including the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and International Development, relevant departmental personnel, academics, subject matter specialists, stakeholders, foreign representatives, and members of the public at large.
Standing Committees Responsible for Foreign Policy:
- 1924: Standing Committee on Industrial and International Relations;
- 1945: Standing Committee on External Affairs;
- 1968: Standing Committee on External Affairs and National Defence;
- 1986: Standing Committee on External Affairs and International Trade;
- 1994: Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade;
- 2006: Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development.
The Committee also has established subcommittees in the areas of international trade and investment (1995–2005); human rights and international development (1995–2005); and, international human rights (2006–2021).
Committee Clerk
The clerk performs their duties and responsibilities under the direction of the committee and its Chair. As an expert in the rules of the House of Commons, the clerk may be requested to give advice to the Chair and members of the committee should a question of procedure arise. The clerk is the coordinator, organizer and liaison officer for the committee, and as such, will be in frequent contact with members’ staff. They are also responsible for inviting witnesses and dealing with all the details regarding their appearance before the committee.
Committee Assistant
The committee assistant provides a wide range of specialized administrative services for the organization of committee meetings and the publishing of documents on the committee’s Website. The committee assistant works with the clerk to meet the needs of the committee.
Committee Analyst
The Library of Parliament’s analysts, who are subject-matter experts, provide authoritative, substantive, and timely research, analysis and information to all members of the committee. They are part of the committee’s institutional memory and are a unique resource for parliamentarians. Supported by research librarians, the analysts work individually or in multidisciplinary teams. Analysts can prepare: briefing notes on the subjects being examined; detailed study plans; lists of proposed witnesses; analyses of an issue with a list of suggested questions; background papers; draft reports; news releases; and/or formal correspondence. Analysts with legal training can assist the committee regarding any substantive issues that may arise during the consideration of bills.
OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE AS REQUIRED
Parliamentary Counsel
Within the Office of the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel, parliamentary counsel (Legislation) are available to assist members who are not in cabinet with the preparation of private members’ bills or of amendments to government bills or others.
At various stages of the legislative process, members may propose amendments to bills. Amendments may first be proposed at the committee stage, during a committee’s clause-by-clause review of a bill. Amendments may also be proposed at the report stage, once a bill returns to the House.
Once a bill is sent to committee, the clerk of the committee provides the name of the parliamentary counsel (Legislation) responsible for the drafting of the amendments for a particular bill to the members.
Legislative Clerk
The Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) is an officer of Parliament created by the Parliament of Canada Act who supports Parliament by providing analysis, including analysis of macroeconomic and fiscal policy, for the purposes of raising the quality of parliamentary debate and promoting greater budget transparency and accountability.
The Parliament of Canada Act also provides the PBO with a mandate to, if requested by a committee, estimate the financial cost of any proposal over which Parliament has jurisdiction. Certain committees can also request research and analyses of the nation’s finances or economy, or of the estimates.
Further information on the PBO may be found at: http://www.pbo-dpb.gc.ca/en/
- Moving the Relationship Forward: NAFTA Modernization and North American Trilateral Cooperation (2018);
In addition to these in-depth policy studies, the Committee has considered legislation and government estimates, addressed emerging policy issues and unfolding international crises, and met with many visiting delegations.