| Type of parliamentary body |
Multifunctional |
| Nature |
Permanent |
| Related to chambers |
House of Commons
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| Date of creation |
1994 |
| Last renewal date |
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| Mandate |
As a permanent committee established by the Standing Orders, the Committee is mandated by the House to oversee the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. It is empowered by the Standing Orders to study and report on all matters relating to the mandate, management and operation of the Department. This includes the review of the relevant statute law, the programme and policy objectives of the Department and its effectiveness in their implementation, the immediate medium- and long-term expenditure plans, an analysis of the relative success of the Department, as measured by the results obtained compared with stated objectives, and other matters relating to the mandate, management, organization or operation of the Department as the Committee deems fit. As a result, the Committee may review any topic of interest to its members in the areas of international trade and foreign affairs. In addition, it is also charged with the examination of other matters routinely referred to it by the House, such as bills, estimates, order-in-council appointments, documents tabled in the House pursuant to statute, and specific matters which the House might wish to have studied.
Although it often tends to be focused on issues relating to foreign affairs and not international trade (it has a subcommittee for the purpose), it has in the past conducted comprehensive reviews of trade topics, including the WTO trade negotiations and Canada's relationship with the United States and Mexico. The Committee has also been requested by Parliament to review legislation implementing multilateral and bilateral trade agreements. Moreover, the Committee reviews and adopts the work of its above-mentioned trade subcommittee (see House of Commons Subcommittee on International Trade, Trade Disputes and Investment).
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| Membership |
The Standing Orders provide that Standing Committees consist of 12 members. The Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs acts as a striking committee at the commencement of a first session of Parliament, that is, it is responsible for preparing a list of the members to serve on the standing committees of the House. However, this Committee has chosen to delegate to the whips of the recognized parties the authority to strike the membership of committees. In addition, the list of Committee members must be revised annually within 10 sitting days following the summer adjournment and again at the beginning of each new session.
Committee membership generally reflects the proportions of the various recognized parties in the House. Where the government has a majority in the House, it will also have a majority on the Committee. Current practice normally excludes certain members who have other parliamentary functions from sitting on standing committees such as the Speaker and other Chair occupants, ministers (including the prime minister) and the leaders of recognized parties.
At the commencement of every session and, if necessary, during the course of a session, the Committee elects a Chair and two Vice-Chairs. The Standing Orders specify that the Chair must be a member of the governing party, that the first Vice-Chair must be from the official Opposition and that the second Vice-Chair must be a member of an opposition party other than the official Opposition.
In addition the regular Committee members, the Standing Orders also provide for associate members who are eligible to be named to subcommittees and to act as substitutes for regular members who are unable to attend Committee meetings.
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| Working methods |
The Committee has established a subcommittee on agenda and procedure for planning purposes. It has delegated to this subcommittee the power to make decisions on the agenda of the Committee.
The Committee's meetings are usually open to the public, except those involving future business, report consideration and any other decisions that have to be made by the members. The Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedures always meets in camera.
As part of the consideration of the matters referred to it by the House or taken up as part of the general mandate conferred to it, the Committee seeks information and comment from a wide variety of sources. Briefings and background documents are routinely provided by Committee research staff and government departments. The Committee also devotes considerable effort to gathering the views of those knowledgeable about or directly concerned by the issue before them. On any given topic, the Committee typically organizes hearings with government officials (including senior Canadian negotiators at the WTO) and a host of other witnesses. Information and comment are generally gathered in two ways: by the direct testimony of witnesses and by the submission of written briefs. Once the Committee has completed its study, a report is usually published.
The power to send for persons and papers, which is accorded to the Committee, includes not only the power to invite the appearance of witnesses and the filing of briefs, but also to order, by summons, that individuals appear or that certain documents be filed with the Committee.
The Committee publishes on the House of Commons website (www.parl.gc.ca) "Minutes of Proceedings", the official record of what the Committee has done, and "Evidence", the transcribed, edited and corrected record of what was said in Committee. From time to time, it also publishes reports to the House; these are also available on the website and, at times, in printed format. The Committee is empowered to append supplementary or dissenting opinions to these reports. All Committee publications are prepared in both official languages.
The Standing Orders provide that, upon request by the Committee, the Government must provide a comprehensive response to a Committee report.
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| Relations with other parliamentary bodies |
The Standing Orders provide that the Committee has the power to delegate powers to subcommittees, except the power to report directly to the House. The Committee is also empowered to meet jointly with other committees of the House. In the past, the Committee has also met jointly with its counterpart in the Senate, although those meetings have been informal. |
| Relations with external bodies |
The Committee is very watchful of the activities of the Government of Canada in the area of foreign policy. Government ministers are often asked to appear on matters of public policy and departmental expenditures. In the preparation of its reports, the Committee relies on the testimony of civil society on the issue under consideration. Committee members have been included in the membership of the national delegations to WTO Ministerial Conferences. |
| Subjects dealt with |
Recent Committee studies have included reviews of Canada's foreign policy, Canada's relations with the Muslim world and Canada's relationship with United States and Mexico. |
| CONTACT INFORMATION |
| Main address |
180 Wellington, 6th floor |
| Phone |
+613 996 1540 |
| Fax |
+613 996 1962 |
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PRESIDING OFFICER(S)
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| Name |
Mr. Bernard Patry |
| Notes |
Chairman of the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade and Foreign Affairs |
| Address (if different from above) |
Room 311, Justice Building, House of Commons |
| Phone |
+613 992 2689 |
| Fax |
+613 996 8478 |
| E-mail |
patry.b@parl.gc.ca |
| Website |
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| Name |
Mr. Kevin Sorenson |
| Notes |
Vice-Chairman of the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade and Foreign Affairs |
| Address (if different from above) |
Room 518, Justice Building, House of Commons |
| Phone |
+613 947 4608 |
| Fax |
+613 947 4611 |
| E-mail |
sorenson.k@parl.gc.ca |
| Website |
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| Name |
Ms. Francine Lalonde |
| Notes |
Vice-Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade and Foreign Affairs |
| Address (if different from above) |
Room 211, Justice Building, House of Commons |
| Phone |
+613 995 6327 |
| Fax |
+613 996 5173 |
| E-mail |
lalonde.f@parl.gc.ca |
| Website |
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SECRETARY
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| Name |
Mr. Andrew Chaplin |
| Notes |
Clerk of the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade and Foreign Affairs |
| Address (if different from above) |
180 Wellington, 6th floor |
| Phone |
+613 996 1540 |
| Fax |
+613 996 1962 |
| E-mail |
chapla@parl.gc.ca |
| web site: |
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| Notes |
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