Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Issue No. 1 - Evidence - Meeting of December 11, 2015
OTTAWA, Friday, December 11, 2015
The Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met this day at 8:02 a.m., pursuant to rule 12-13 of the Rules of the Senate, to organize the activities of the committee.
[English]
Blair Armitage, Clerk of the Committee: Honourable senators, as clerk of the committee, it is my duty to preside over the election of a chair. Are there any nominations on that effect?
Senator Downe: I nominate Senator Andreychuk.
Mr. Armitage: Are there any other nominations? There not being any, do you agree, honourable senators, to the motion of the Honourable Senator Downe that the Honourable Senator Andreychuk do take the chair?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Senator A. Raynell Andreychuk (Chair) in the chair.
The Chair: I want to thank Senator Downe and the rest of the committee. We had a good committee last time, we worked together well and we accomplished quite a bit. At the next meeting, I want to file all of the work that was done by committee members in the five months that we were away. Some of us wrote articles, some gave speeches — Senator Downe did — and Senator Johnson had an excellent piece in the paper. It was always about the Senate report, so I think the rest of the committee and the new members would want to know that. We will do that when we get back.
We will move to the second order of business, and that is the election of the deputy chair.
Senator Johnson: I nominate one person on the other side, Senator Downe.
The Chair: Are there any other nominations?
Senator Johnson: Where is your campaign team?
The Chair: If not, someone move to accept the nomination of Senator Downe as deputy chair. Okay, Senator Rivard does so.
We now need a motion that a Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedures be struck, composed of the chair, deputy chair and one other member of the committee to be designated after the usual consultation.
Would anyone move that motion? Senator Housakos.
Is there agreement?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: We will move to a motion to publish the committee's proceedings. Do I have a mover?
Senator Johnson: So moved.
The Chair: Next is the authorization to hold meetings and to receive evidence when quorum is not present. Senator Oh moves that.
Is there agreement?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Next is research staff. I think all of you have read and know the motions; I don't see anyone who has been recently appointed, so I think we know the content. So is there a mover of the motion on research staff?
Senator Downe: So moved.
The Chair: Is there agreement?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: I see a little relief at the end of the table. Maybe you want to introduce yourselves for the new members.
Natalie Mychajlyszyn, Analyst, Library of Parliament: My name is Natalie Mychajlyszyn, from the Library of Parliament, the International Affairs Section.
The Chair: Natalie has been a researcher with us for quite some time, has had some personal medical problems and looks absolutely fit and ready to come back and work. We are really delighted.
Pascal Tremblay, Analyst, Library of Parliament: My name is Pascal Tremblay. I'm on the same team as Natalie.
The Chair: Great. Natalie does a lot of our foreign policy issues, and Pascal knows all of the trade and economic issues, so they make a great team. We're pleased to have both of you back with us.
We will go to the authority to commit funds and certify accounts. Do I have a mover? Senator Housakos.
Agreement?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Travel:
That the committee empower the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure to designate, as required, one or more members of the committee or such staff as may be necessary to travel on assignment on behalf of the committee.
I was around when this rule was put in to deal with an urgent matter, not committee travel, but if one particular committee member or staff needed to go to either a convention or event that is part of a study or a need within the committee. But it takes, in our case, generally, the steering committee. Unless it is urgent, then it would be the chair and deputy chair, with consultation with the other committee. Or however it works out. But we make sure we have the two party representatives before we move on this one.
Is there a mover? Senator Johnson moves the motion.
Agreed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: The next motion is the designation of members travelling on committee business. That also has been explained to us by administration.
Is there a mover? Senator Oh.
Agreed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: The next motion has to do with the travel and living expenses of witnesses. Do I have a mover? Senator Downe.
Agreed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Next is broadcasting. Senator Housakos moves the motion.
Agreed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: The time slot for regular meetings has been designated. This is for information purposes: Wednesday from 4:15 to 6:15, and Thursday from 10:30 to 12:30.
Just a reminder for new members: When you go until 12:30, you still have time for lunch, so it is not provided at the committee according to Internal's rules.
Before we adjourn, I propose, in consultation with Senator Downe, to circulate — probably not before Christmas, because you will probably think it is a Christmas card, but just after — your suggestions of what we study. We completed all of our studies. We have the TTP coming up. We have the CETA coming up. There are a whole host of issues that we could deal with in foreign policy, some of which will be touched by the house. We don't want to replicate what they do, so I will be in touch with them.
We had some excellent ideas from committee members and we want to be sure we're doing the things you want to do. You will get a notice. Think about it after Christmas, when you are recovering and recuperating from too many festivities, what would be a study.
What we're trying to do is not have really long studies. We had that in the past. It was an interesting study, but by the time we got to it, the issue had moved on. So we want to be sure that we do things efficiently, quickly and timely so that they are of benefit to the government, academics and Canadians.
So think about them and bring them in.
Senator Johnson: We can still write on that, because with the last one we did, we were able to use it in all of our Canada-U.S. meetings and actually get speaking spots because it was so au current. The ambassadors were both so appreciative; they both had it and used it. I circulated it everywhere. It was great.
The Chair: The academics had already touched that field and alerted us. They were the ones who came and testified here and were very supportive, but hardly any parliamentarians have been dealing with it, so we were the first on that. I know the Mexicans were very appreciative.
Senator Johnson: It also gave us an opportunity to write our articles about what is happening with the Canada-U.S. situation. As you know, we have the TTP now and others that are big issues.
The Chair: They are also political issues in NATO. The military unity of NATO was an issue a number of years ago, which was defence. Right now the hottest issue in Europe is the political unity of NATO and how it complements the European Union or not. Of course, that gets into all of the dynamics in Europe. So that may be one of the issues we would want to look at. That does not, therefore, intrude on the Defence Committee's work, but it is probably the most timely issue in Europe, so that's one.
I will suggest some topics, but I would like everyone else to do so.
Other than that, the clerk needs me somewhere else, I'm told. Have a good break. We will be back to work in January. Thank you for your support.
(The committee adjourned.)