FAAE Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development met at 3:29 p.m. this day, in Room 209, West Block, the Chair, Kevin Sorenson, presiding.

The Minister made a statement and, with the other witnesses, answered questions.

At 4:36 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:42 p.m., the sitting resumed.

The Chair presented the First Report from the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure which read as follows:

Your Subcommittee met on Wednesday, February 4, 2009, to consider the business of the Committee and agreed to make the following recommendations:

1. That the Committee consider issues raised in the 10th Report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 2nd Session of the 39th Parliament entitled Canada in Afghanistan, adopt the report and its recommendations as a report of this Committee in this Parliament and report it to the House requesting a government response.

2. That the Committee consider the Supplementary Estimates (B) presented to the House on Thursday January 29, 2009, on Monday, February 9, 2009, and that the Minister appear before the Committee at that meeting.

3. That the Committee commence a review of Canadian foreign policy by studying different regions of the world and Canada's relations with them beginning with the Canada / US relationship, then looking at Canada's policy respecting the Arctic, Africa and other regions of the world. That in relation to this proposed study the Committee hear from witnesses on Wednesday February 11, 2009.

On motion of Bernard Patry, it was agreed, — That the report be amended, in the first paragraph , by adding after the words: “requesting a government response.” the following: “That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(1)(a), the Committee authorize the printing of brief dissenting and/or supplementary opinions as appendices to this report immediately after the signature of the Chair, that the opinions be sent to the Clerk of the Committee by electronic mail in both official languages on or before Thursday, February 26, 2009”.

It was agreed, — That the report be amended in the third paragraph by adding after the words “commence a review” the following: “key elements”.

On motion of Lois Brown, it was agreed, — That the report of the Subcommittee, as amended, be concurred in.

At 5:29 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.