Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on 
Foreign Affairs and International Trade

Issue 9 - Minutes of Proceedings - Meeting of March 8, 2012

OTTAWA, Thursday, March 8, 2012
(20)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met at 10:35 a.m., this day, in room 160-S, Centre Block, the chair, the Honourable A. Raynell Andreychuk, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, De Bané, P.C., Downe, Finley, Fortin- Duplessis, Johnson, Nolin, Robichaud, P.C., Smith, P.C., (Cobourg) and Wallin (10).

In attendance: Natalie Mychajlyszyn and Brian Hermon, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, February 7, 2012, the committee continued its examination on the establishment of a "Charter of the Commonwealth" as agreed to by the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Perth, Australia, in October 2011 and its implications for Canada. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 8.)

WITNESSES (by video conference):

Commonwealth Secretariat:

Kamalesh Sharma, Secretary-General.

Organisation internationale de la Francophonie:

Pierre de Cocatrix, Chief of Cabinet of the Secretary General;

Eric Pelletier, Advisor responsible for Cooperation.

Mr. Sharma made a statement and answered questions.

At 11:33 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 11:40 a.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. de Cocatrix and Mr. Pelletier made statements and answered questions.

At 12:35 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Line Gravel

Clerk of the Committee