Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Foreign Affairs

Issue 8 - Minutes of Proceedings

OTTAWA, Wednesday, October 2, 1996
(14)

[Translation]

The Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs met this day, at 3:45 p.m., in Room 256-S of the Centre Block, the Chairman, the Honourable John B. Stewart, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Bacon, Bolduc, Carney, Corbin, Doody, Grafstein, Stewart and Stollery. (9)

Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Marcel Prud'homme (1).

Also present: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Mr. Anthony Chapman, Economics Division.

In attendance: Official Senate Reporters.

WITNESSES:

From the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade:

Mr. John Klassen, Director General, APEC;

John Bell, Ambassador for Canada's Year of Asia Pacific;

Mr. Roger Ferland, Director General, North Asia and the Pacific; and

Ms Ingrid Hall, Director General, South and South East Asia.

Messrs Klassen, Bell and Ferland and Ms Hall made presentations and answered questions.

The Chairman tabled a draft order of reference for consideration by the Asia Pacific committee.

Following debate,

The Honourable Senator Carney moved that "Canada's Year of Asia Pacific" be added at the end of the first paragraph;

Following debate,

The Honourable Senator Carney moved -- THAT the following order of reference be adopted.

THAT the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs be authorized to examine and report on the growing importance of the Asia Pacific region for Canada, with emphasis on the upcoming Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Conference to be held in Vancouver in the fall of 1997, Canada's Year of Asia Pacific;

THAT the Committee be authorized to hire the services of advisors, specialists, office staff and anyone else deemed necessary to carry out the work specified in the order of reference;

THAT the Committee be authorized to travel outside Canada; and

THAT the Committee submit its final report no later than July 31, 1997.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The Chairman was invited to table the motion in the Senate on Thursday, October 4, 1996.

At 5:25 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

Serge Pelletier

Clerk of the Committee