FAAE Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met at 9:04 a.m. this day, in Room 371 West Block, for the purpose of electing a Chair, pursuant to Standing Order 106(1).

On motion of Dan McTeague, it was agreed, — That Bernard Patry be elected Chair of the Committee.

On motion of Peter Goldring, it was agreed, — That Kevin Sorenson, be elected as Official Opposition Vice-Chair of the Committee.

On motion of Pierre A. Paquette, it was agreed, — That Francine Lalonde be elected as Opposition Vice-Chair of the Committee.

It was agreed, — That the Chair, the two Vice-Chairs, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Member from the New Democratic Party do compose the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure.

It was agreed, — That the Committee retain the services of one or more analysts from the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament, as needed, to assist the Committee in its work, at the discretion of the Chair.

It was agreed, — That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive and publish evidence when a quorum is not present provided that at least three (3) members are present, including a member of the opposition.

It was agreed, — That witnesses be given ten (10) minutes for their opening statement; that, at the discretion of the Chair, during the questioning of witnesses, there be allocated ten (10) minutes for the first questioner of each party when a Minister appears before the Committee and five (5) minutes for the other meetings and that thereafter, five (5) minutes be allocated to each subsequent questioner alternating between Government and Opposition parties.

It was agreed, — That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnessses not exceeding two (2) representatives per organization; provided that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be at the discretion of the Chair.

It was agreed, — That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute to the members of the Committee documents only when they exist in both official languages and that no document provided by a witness be distributed without the authorization of the Clerk of the Committee.

It was agreed, — That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to purchase documents for its use.

It was agreed, — That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide for working meals for the Committee and its Subcommittees.

It was agreed, — That, unless otherwise ordered, each Committee member be allowed to have one staff person present at in camera meetings.

It was agreed, — That one copy of the transcript of all in camera meetings be kept in the Committee Clerk’s office for consultation by members of the Committee.

It was agreed, — That the Committee be authorized to purchase gifts to be presented to foreign hosts while travelling and as well to foreign delegations visiting Ottawa.

It was agreed, — That, pursuant to Standing Orders 108(1) and 108(2), a Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Development to be chaired by a member elected by the Subcommittee, be established to inquire into matters relating to the promotion of respect for international human rights and the achievement of sustainable human development goals, as may be referred to it by the Committee; that the subcommittee be composed of seven (7) members or associate members of which three (3) shall be government members and two (2) shall be Conservative members, one shall be from the Bloc Québécois and one from the New Democratic Party, to be named following the usual consultations with the Whips; and that the Subcommittee be empowered to send for persons, papers and record, to receive evidence, to sit during a time when the Committee is not sitting in Ottawa, to sit when the Committee is sitting outside Parliamentary Precinct and to sit during periods when the House stands adjourned .

It was agreed, — That, pursuant to Standing Orders 108(1) and 108(2), a Subcommittee on International Trade, Trade Disputes and Investment to be chaired by a member elected by the Subcommittee, be established to inquire into Canada's trade and investment relations and in particular any matters pertaining to the negotiation and implementation of international agreements, as may be referred to it by the Committee; that the Subcommittee be composed of seven (7) members or associate members of which three (3) shall be government members, two (2) shall be Conservative members, one shall be from the Bloc Québecois and one (1) from the Neo Democratic Party, to be named following the usual consultations with the Whips; and that the Subcommittee be empowered to send for personons, papers and records, to receive evidence, to sit during a time when the Committee is not sitting in Ottawa, to sit when the Committee is sitting outside Parliamentary Precinct and to sit during periods when the House stands adjourned .

It was agreed, — That, except for amendments to bills, twenty-four (24) hours’ notice be given before any substantive motion is considered by the Committee; and That the motion be filed with the Clerk of the Committee and circulated to members in both official languages. Upon receipt of the notice, the Clerk shall put the motion on the agenda of the Committee’s next meeting.

It was agreed, — That for motions requiring (24) hours notice, the Chair be authorized to defer consideration until 15 minutes prior to the adjournment time for the meeting as indicated in the Notice of the Meeting.

The Committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to Committee business.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee undertake a study on Disarmament issues and that pursuant to Recommandation 2 of the Committee's December 1998 report, Canada and the Nuclear Challange: Reducing the Political Value of Nuclear Weapons for the Twenty-First Century, the Ambassador for Disarmament be invited to appear as well as representatives of the Canadian Network to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.

At 9:37 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.