It was agreed, — That the First Report from the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, which read as follows, be concurred in:

Your subcommittee met on Friday, October 16, 2020, to consider the business of the committee and agreed to make the following recommendations:

1. That, the committee hold a briefing over the course of two meetings with officials from Global Affairs Canada, Dr. Laurence Broers and a representative from the OSCE regarding the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.

2. That, the committee hold a briefing with officials from Global Affairs Canada on the current situation in Venezuela.

3. That, the committee hold a briefing with officials from Global Affairs Canada on the current situation in Belarus.

4. That, the committee undertake a study of the vulnerabilities that have been created and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic particularly in crisis- and conflict-affected situations; that the committee examine the international community's and Canada’s response in those contexts, while also considering preventative measures going forward, given warnings from the World Health Organization about other possible future pandemics; that the Committee consider the particular challenges in relation to such issues as displacement, child protection, gender-based violence, gender equality, human rights, health, education and food security; and that the committee report its findings back to the House.

5. That, the analysts draft a thematic workplan for the study of the vulnerabilities that have been created and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

6. That, the Chair be given latitude in scheduling the work of the committee, and that the thematic segments of the study of the vulnerabilities that have been created and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic be scheduled in between the agreed-upon briefings and appearances by the Ministers.

It was agreed, — That the analysts provide the committee with a detailed scope of possible thematic segments for the study of the vulnerabilities created and exacerbated by COVID-19 in crisis- and conflict- affected areas.

It was agreed, — That a proposed budget in the amount of $1,150, for the briefing on the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, be adopted.

It was agreed, — That the clerk make arrangements for Members’ staff to attend the Zoom portions of public as well as in camera meetings.

At 4:10 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:48 p.m., the sitting resumed in a public and webcast session.

David Sproule made a statement.

At 4:59 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 5:00 p.m., the sitting resumed.

David Sproule and Shalini Anand answered questions.