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. 25
Tuesday, May 29, 2001
The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met in a televised session at 3:35 p.m. this day, in Room 253-D, Centre Block, the Chair, Bill Graham, presiding.
Members of the Committee present: Jean Augustine, Colleen Beaumier, Rick Casson, Bill Graham, John Harvard, Stan Keyes, Francine Lalonde, Diane Marleau, Pat O'Brien, Deepak Obhrai, Denis Paradis, Bernard Patry.
Acting Members present: Antoine Dubé for Pierre Paquette; Joe Comartin for Svend Robinson.
In attendance: From the Library of Parliament: James Lee; David Johansen.
Witnesses: From the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade: Frank Ruddock, Deputy Director, U.S. Transboundary Division. From the Department of Justice: Jason Reiskind, Counsel, International Law and Activities Section. From the Environment Canada: John B. Cooper, Director, National Water Issues Branch, Ecosystems and Environmental Resources Directorate, Environmental Conservation Service.
Pursuant to its Order of Reference of Tuesday, May 8, 2001, the Committee resumed consideration of Bill C-6, An Act to amend the International Boundary Waters Treaty Act (See Minutes of Proceedings, Thursday, May 10, 2001, Meeting No. 19).
The Committee proceeded to Clause-by-Clause consideration of the Bill.
On Clause 1,
Francine Lalonde moved, -- That Bill C-6, in Clause 1, be amended by adding, after line 9 on page 5, the following:
16.1 Despite section 16, the Minister may only issue licences in respect of those uses, obstructions and derivations that are subject to the application of the treaty and that have first been approved in accordance with Articles III and IV of the treaty.
After debate, the question being put on the amendment, it was negatived on division.
Rick Casson moved, -- That Bill C-6, in Clause 1, be amended by adding after line 18 on page 4 the following:
After debate, the question being put on the amendment, it was negatived on division.
Joe Comartin moved, -- That Bill C-6, in Clause 1, be amended by adding after line 18 on page 4 the following:
After debate, the question being put on the amendment, it was negatived on division.
Joe Comartin moved, -- That Bill C-6, in Clause 1, be amended by adding after line 23 on page 5 the following:
After debate, the question being put on the amendment, it was adopted.
Clause 1, as amended, carried.
Clause 2 carried.
The Title carried.
The Bill, as amended, carried on division.
ORDERED, -- That the Chairman report Bill C-6, with amendment, to the House as the second report of the Committee.
At 4:54 p.m., the sitting was suspended.
At 4:56 p.m., the sitting resumed.
From the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade: Patricia Marsden-Dole, Director General, South and Southeast Asia Bureau; James Junke, Director, South Asia Division; Roohi Ahmed, Desk Officer: Pakistan and Afghanistan, South Asia Division.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), a study on the Situation in Afghanistan.
On motion of Deepak Obhrai, the Committee began consideration of a draft resolution on the situation in Afghanistan.
The witnesses answered questions.
At 5:25 p.m., the sitting was suspended.
At 6:01 p.m., the sitting resumed in camera.
At 6:22 p.m., the Committee proceeded to sit in a public session.
On motion of Deepak Obhrai, the Committee agreed unanimously to the following resolution:
Deeply disturbed by the May 22, 2001 edict by the Taliban of Afghanistan forcing its Hindu population to wear religious symbols denoting their faith;
Recognizing that the Taliban continue to abuse the basic human rights of the Afghan citizens, in particular those of women and children;
Re-affirming the importance of religious freedom as a basic human right; and
Recognizing the Government of Canada's ongoing work in this area;
The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade condemns the recent actions of the Taliban in Afghanistan and recommends that the Government of Canada actively co-sponsor resolutions within the United Nations system which advocate the promotion and protection of religious freedom and respect of international humanitarian law in Afghanistan.
It was agreed that the Chair be authorised to make such typographical and editorial changes as may be necessary without changing the substance of the report.
Ordered - that the Chair report the draft resolution as amended to the House as the third report of the Committee.
At 6:30 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
Marie Danielle Vachon
Clerk of the Committee