FAAE Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development met at 3:55 p.m. this day, in Room 253-D, Centre Block, the Chair, Kevin Sorenson, presiding.

A. John Watson and Najiba Ayoobi made statements and answered questions.

At 5:10 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 5:21 p.m., the sitting resumed sitting in camera.

The Committee resumed consideration of a draft report.

At 5:49 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 5:50 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Peter Van Loan moved, — That the Committee, in regards to their study on democracy promotion should proceed as follows:

PART I – Framework of Democracy Promotion Section

1 - What does Canada do in democracy promotion? What does Canada NOT do in democracy promotion? [Minister of Foreign Affairs] [Minister of International Development] [CIDA]

Section 2 - Theoretical approaches to democracy promotion [Academic witnesses]

Section 3 - A political approach to democracy promotion, and involving politicians [Westminster Institute, National Endowment for Democracy, NDI and IRI Democracy Canada]

Section 4 - Comparative approaches to democracy promotion [Other countries – e.g. Nordics]

PART II – Country Examples

Section 5 - The Eager recipient (e.g. Baltics, Poland, etc.)

Section 6 - Democracy Challenged (e.g. Ukraine, Georgia)

Section 7 - Resistant States (e.g. Belarus, etc.)

Section 8 - Post–conflict states (e.g. Former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan)

Section 9 - Fragile States (e.g. Haiti, etc.) Subject matters above may be re-ordered according to availability of witnesses, however a minimum of one committee meeting per sitting week shall be dedicated to this study.

It was agreed, — That the Committee would discuss Mr. Van Loan's motion at a future date.

Bryon Wilfert moved, — That the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development begin a study of clause by clause on Bill C-293, An Act respecting the provision of development assistance abroad, at the scheduled meeting on November 28, 2006 .

Debate arose thereon.

Keith Martin moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing all the words after “That” with the words “the Committee hear from witnesses from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Finance on Tuesday November 28, 2006 on Bill C-293, An Act respecting the provision of development assistance abroad;

That the Committee commence and complete clause by clause on Bill C-293 Wednesday, November 29, 2006;

That the amendments of the government to Bill C-293, be submitted to the Clerk by Monday, November 27, 2006; and

That the government witnesses on Tuesday prepare written presentations which will be submitted to the Committee by Monday, November 27, 2006”.

Debate arose thereon.

On motion of Peter Van Loan, it was agreed, — That the amendment be amended by adding after the words “submitted to the Clerk by Monday, November 27, 2006” the following: “without prejudice to bringing further amendments”.

On motion of Alexa McDonough, it was agreed, — That the amendment be amended by replacing the words “commence and complete” with the words “proceed to ”.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That the Committee hear from witnesses from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Finance on Tuesday November 28, 2006 on Bill C-293, An Act respecting the provision of development assistance abroad;

That the Committee proceed to clause by clause on Bill C-293 Wednesday, November 29, 2006;

That the amendments of the government to Bill C-293, be submitted to the Clerk by Monday, November 27, 2006, without prejudice to bringing further amendments; and

That the government witnesses on Tuesday prepare written presentations which will be submitted to the Committee by Monday, November 27, 2006”.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

At 6:02 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.