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

Issue No. 49 - Minutes of Proceedings - September 19, 2018

OTTAWA, Wednesday, September 19, 2018
(108)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met this day at 4:17 p.m., in room 160- S, Centre Block, the chair, the Honourable A. Raynell Andreychuk, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Ataullahjan, Cordy, Dawson, Greene, Housakos, Massicotte, Miville-Dechêne, Ngo, Oh and Saint-Germain (11).

Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Cormier (1).

In attendance: Natalie Mychajlyszyn, Pascal Tremblay, Marion Ménard and Nadia Faucher, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament; Marcy Galipeau, Head, Strategic Communications and Stav Nitka, Communications Officer, Senate Communications Directorate.

Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.

The chair made a statement.

The Honourable Senator Saint-Germain moved:

That the Honourable Senator Massicotte be deputy chair of this committee.

After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, October 26, 2017, the committee continued its study on the impact and utilization of Canadian culture and arts in Canadian foreign policy and diplomacy, and other related matters. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 34.)

WITNESS:

As an individual:

John Ralston Saul, Essayist and Novelist.

The chair made a statement.

Mr. Ralston Saul made a statement and answered questions.

At 5:04 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:08 p.m., the committee resumed.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, January 27, 2016, the committee continued its study on foreign relations and international trade generally. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 1.)

WITNESSES:

As individuals:

Diego Enrique Arria Salicetti, Former Permanent Representative of Venezuela to the UN;

Tamara Sulay Suju Roa, Executive Director of Casla Institute, Czech Republic;

Antonio José Ledezma Diaz, Former Mayor of Caracas.

The chair made a statement.

Mr. Arria Salicetti, Ms. Suju Roa and Mr. Ledezma Diaz made statements and answered questions.

At 5:51 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:55 p.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee resumed in camera to consider a draft agenda (future business).

It was agreed that senators' staff be permitted to remain in the room during the in camera portion of the meeting.

At 6:10 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Marie-Eve Belzile
Clerk of the Committee