Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Issue 6 - Evidence - Meeting of April 2, 2008
OTTAWA, Wednesday, April 2, 2008
The Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, to which was referred Bill C-293, An Act respecting the provision of official development assistance abroad, met this day at 4:01 p.m. to give clause-by- clause consideration to the bill.
Senator Consiglio Di Nino (Chair) in the chair.
[English]
The Chair: Honourable senators, I see a quorum. I would like to call the meeting to order.
With your indulgence, I will switch the two items on the agenda. We will do the draft budgets first and then go to clause-by-clause consideration of the bill. If it is the wish of the committee to append some observations, we will go in camera to discuss the observations and deal with those.
Therefore, I am calling the meeting to order; the meeting of the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade. The first item to consider is draft budgets.
In the order you have received your copies, there is one that deals with legislation. It is a standard budget for working meals, books, subscriptions, et cetera, to a total for the fiscal year of $7,000.
Generally, we do not spend that much, but we thought we would be prudent rather than needing to go back. If we do not spend it, then of course it will have to go back to the Senate.
Senator Corbin: That is for the duration of the session, and we do not know how long this session will last.
The Chair: Exactly; not knowing how long we will be sitting is the other reason.
Senator Corbin: I move the adoption.
The Chair: Thank you. Senator Corbin moves. All in favour of the adoption of the first budget, which is for legislation?
All in favour? Thank you kindly.
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: The second item, colleagues, is for our committee in general and has some working meals as well. It has memberships and participation in conferences, and some transportation. In total, we are talking about the budget of $81,000. Once again, it is quite similar to our budgets in the past.
Are there any questions?
Senator Dawson: I will move that one.
The Chair: Moved by Senator Dawson. Are there any questions? All in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Thank you. Passed.
We will now move to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-293. I feel it is fair to inform all colleagues that there have been some discussions on potential amendments. Senator Segal unfortunately could not be here today. He is travelling on government business. However, he will be providing some amendments for our consideration in the Senate chamber. Therefore, my recommendation is, if it is your wish, that we proceed with clause-by-clause consideration and see how it develops as we go through. Is that agreed?
Senator Corbin: Would you also like to inform the committee about the change of schedule with respect to the appearance of Minister Oda today?
The Chair: Yes, and I apologize; you are absolutely right. Minister Oda had intended to be here but unfortunately had to cancel. These situations happen, as we know, in our business. Possible amendments that would be proposed in the Senate are under discussion as we speak, and this will continue over the next few days.
Senator Corbin: Does that mean if the committee decides to report the bill to the Senate today, Minister Oda would not be available for comment on the bill per se? Would it be possible to have her here at a later date respecting her comments about the Africa report?
The Chair: As you know, we have invited the president of CIDA on the fifteenth to discuss a particular report. If it is the wish of the committee to invite the minister to also attend either at that time or at some future time, I would be delighted to extend that invitation.
Senator Corbin: That should be considered because — how shall I put it — there are political implications as well as administrative implications, and I would like to hear about the policy side of things.
The Chair: I am happy to extent the invitation.
Senator Stollery: Mr. Chair, many of us knew before the meeting started today that she was not coming. However, we considered it to be an opportunity to ask questions about CIDA and all of this. Therefore, it would be useful if we could get a date when she could come.
The Chair: That information was provided to us prior to our steering committee meeting yesterday, and we had discussed it at the steering committee, so we were aware at that time that the minister could not attend. However, I am totally in favour of inviting her appear before us on the Africa report or on any other issues with which we may want to deal; although we should tell her in advance, out of courtesy, about issues dealing with our responsibility as the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
I will extend that invitation.
Senator Downe: Do you know the nature of the amendments being considered by one of the committee members and if they involve, for example, exemption to the bill requested by the International Development Research Centre, or do we have to wait until we hear those in the chamber?
The Chair: All of us have been aware of ongoing discussions, particularly Senator Dallaire. Those discussions have not yet been completed, so I am not in a position to respond. There have been some discussions to which Senator Dallaire has been privy. I am not sure it would be useful to discuss them at this particular meeting. It may certainly confuse the committee if those are not contained in the final amendments that will be presented.
Honourable senators, is it agreed that the committee proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-293, An Act respecting the provision of official development assistance abroad?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Shall the title stand postponed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Senator Dawson: May I ask a technical question?
The Chair: Yes, senator.
Senator Dawson: There had been some discussion about comments to be added.
The Chair: We will deal with that.
Senator Dawson: Will we deal with that after the bill is adopted?
The Chair: After the bill is adopted, yes.
Senator Dawson: Okay; thank you.
[Translation]
The Chair: Shall consideration of clause 1, containing the short title, stand postponed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Thank you. Shall clause 2 carry?
Senator Nolin: On division.
The Chair: Thank you. Shall clause 3 carry?
Senator Nolin: On division.
[English]
The Chair: Shall clause 4 carry?
Senator Nolin: On division.
The Chair: On division. Shall clause 5 carry?
Senator Nolin: On division.
The Chair: On division.
[Translation]
The Chair: Shall clause 6 carry?
Senator Nolin: Yes.
[English]
The Chair: On division?
[Translation]
Senator Nolin: I am following my instructions, Mr. Chair, and I think that there is unanimity on clause 6.
The Chair: Thank you.
Senator Nolin: And on the title.
The Chair: Shall clause 1, containing the short title, carry?
Senator Nolin: Yes.
The Chair: Carried. Shall the title carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
[English]
The Chair: Shall the bill carry without amendment?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
[Translation]
Senator Nolin: On division.
[English]
The Chair: On division.
I understand, colleagues, that there has been some suggestion that observation be appended to the report. If, in effect, it is the wish of this committee to discuss observations, the committee will have to go in camera, which is the rule of the organization. I will ask the question first: Is there an interest in discussing observations?
Hon. Senators: Yes.
The Chair: Agreed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Thank you. Then may I ask to take a couple of minutes break for the proceedings to go in camera. Before I do that I would also like permission — I can do this now or later while the observations are being distributed — to ask staff to remain.
Can I have a motion to have staff remain?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
[Translation]
Senator Nolin: As long as it is not considered a precedent.
[English]
The Chair: Agreed. Thank you. I have to ask all others who are not staff to please vacate the room. Thank you kindly.
The committee continued in camera.