FAIT Committee Meeting
Notices of Meeting include information about the subject matter to be examined by the committee and date, time and place of the meeting, as well as a list of any witnesses scheduled to appear. The Evidence is the edited and revised transcript of what is said before a committee. The Minutes of Proceedings are the official record of the business conducted by the committee at a sitting.
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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Meeting No. 34
Tuesday, March 28, 2000
The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met at 9:40 a.m. this day, in Room 308, West Block, the Chair, Bill Graham, presiding.
Members of the Committee present: Sarkis Assadourian, Jean Augustine, Colleen Beaumier, Maud Debien, Bill Graham, Diane Marleau, Keith Martin, Ted McWhinney, Deepak Obhrai, Denis Paradis, Bernard Patry, Bob Speller.
Acting Member present: Pauline Picard for Yves Rocheleau; Gurmant Grewal for Darrel Stinson.
From the Parliamentary Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Gerald Schmitz and James Lee, Research Officers.
Witnesses: From the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade: John McNee, Director General, Middle East and North Africa Bureau; Donald Sinclair, Director, Middle East Division; Douglas Forsythe, Deputy Director, Economic Law Section, Oceans, Environmental and Economic Law Division; Dennis Horak, Deputy Director, Middle East Division.
On motion of Jean Augustine, it was agreed, --That concerned by the testimony of the Canadian Red Cross Society in its appearance of February 29, 2000, which explained that grave financial difficulties unrelated to the Society’s international work have prevented it – for the first time in its 104 year history – from fulfilling its financial obligations to the Federation of National Societies and its statutory contributions to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC);
Noting that as a result Canada is the only donor country which is unable to honour these international Red Cross commitments;
Acknowledging the continuing strong public support for the Canadian Red Cross’s vitally important work internationally in disaster response and humanitarian relief, including assistance to refugees from the Balkans conflicts, as well as the Society’s auxiliary role to the medical armed forces of Canada;
The House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade recommends that the Government of Canada consider the advisability of providing support to the Canadian Red Cross Society to enable it to meet its international statutory obligations, at least on a temporary basis until such time as it is able to resolve its domestic financial difficulties.
It was agreed, --That notwithstanding its decision of Thursday, December 16, 1999, regarding a resolution on Burma, the motion be amended by stiking out the words "as the legitimate authority in" and replacing them with the following: "The Committee representing the People's Parliament as the representatives of the people of"; and by striking out the words "today the Committee for the Restoration of a People's Parliament".
The revised resolution is as follows: It was agreed, -- That the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade urge the Parliament of Canada to recognize the Committee representing the People's Parliament as the representatives of the people of Burma; and further urge the Government of Canada to consider the imposition of investment sanctions on the regime in Burma.
Deepak Obhrai moved, --That pursuant to Standing Order 108, the committee undertake an examination of management decisions, operations and criteria used to evaluate medium and long-term financing decisions, other than short-term insurance, of the Export Development Corporation, and that the Minister of International Trade, Pierre Pettigrew, EDC Chairman Patrick Lavelle and EDC President Ian Gillespie be called to appear.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was negatived on the following recordred division:
YEAS
Maude Debien
Gurmant Grewal
Deepak Obhrai
Pauline Picard: ¾ 4
NAYS
Sarkis Assdourian
Jean Augustine
Colleen Beaumier
Hon. Diane Marleau
Ted McWhinney
Denis Paradis
Bernard Patry
Bob Speller: ¾ 8
At 10:06 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee continued its examination of sanctions against Iraq. (See Minutes of Proceedings, Tuesday, March 21, 2000, Meeting No. 29.)
John McNee made an opening statement and, with Donald Sinclair and Dennis Horaq, answered questions.
At 12:00 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
Janice Hilchie
Clerk of the Committee