Notice of Commons Foreign Affairs C'tee Mtg on R&D April 1 @ 11

Notice of Meeting

Options

Back to committee meetings

 

HOUSE OF COMMONS		CHAMBRE DES COMMUNES
3rd Session, 40th Parliament		3e session, 40e législature
NOTICE OF MEETING		AVIS DE CONVOCATION
Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development		Comité permanent des affaires étrangères et du développement international
Meeting No. 8		Séance no 8
Thursday, April 1, 2010		Le jeudi 1 avril 2010
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.		11 heures à 12 h 30
Room 371, West Block   Pièce 371, édifice de l'Ouest (613-992-1192)   (613-992-1192)
Orders of the Day		Ordre du jour
Situation at Rights & Democracy		Situation à Droits et Démocratie
Witnesses		Témoins
Rights & Democracy		Droits et Démocratie
Aurel Braun, Chair of the Board of Directors		Aurel Braun, président du conseil d'administration
Jacques P. Gauthier, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors		Jacques P. Gauthier, vice-président du conseil d'administration
David Matas, Member of the Board of Directors		David Matas, membre du conseil d'administration
Brad Farquhar, Member of the Board of Directors		Brad Farquhar, membre du conseil d'administration
La greffière du Comité
Carmen DePape (613-996-1540)
Clerk of the Committee
2010/03/30 5:37 p.m.		2010/03/30 17 h 37

http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=4394496&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=40&Ses=3

Notice of Commons Foreign Affairs C'tee Mtg on R&D March 30 @ 11

HOUSE OF COMMONS		CHAMBRE DES COMMUNES
3rd Session, 40th Parliament		3e session, 40e législature
NOTICE OF MEETING		AVIS DE CONVOCATION
Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development		Comité permanent des affaires étrangères et du développement international
Meeting No. 7		Séance no 7
Tuesday, March 30, 2010		Le mardi 30 mars 2010
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.		11 heures à 12 heures
Room 371, West Block   Pièce 371, édifice de l'Ouest (613-992-1192)   (613-992-1192)
Orders of the Day		Ordre du jour
Situation at Rights & Democracy		Situation à Droits et Démocratie
Witnesses		Témoins
Public Service Alliance of Canada		Alliance de la Fonction publique du Canada
Maxime Longangué, President Union of Employees of Rights & Democracy		Maxime Longangué, président Syndicat des employées et employés de Droits et Démocratie
Micheline Lévesque, Vice-President Union of Employees of Rights & Democracy		Micheline Lévesque, vice-présidente Syndicat des employées et employés de Droits et Démocratie
As individuals		À titre personnel
Charles Vallerand		Charles Vallerand
Marie-France Cloutier		Marie-France Cloutier
Razmik Panossian		Razmik Panossian
La greffière du Comité
Carmen DePape (613-996-1540)
Clerk of the Committee http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=4385753&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=40&Ses=3

Witnesses to be Called to Give Evidence to Commons Foreign Affairs Committee Study of R&D Matter

Publications - March 23, 2010

Minutes

Options

Back to committee meetings

 

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 5

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development met at 11:00 a.m. this day, in Room 371, West Block, the Chair, Dean Allison, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Hon. Jim Abbott, Dean Allison, Paul Dewar, Peter Goldring, Francine Lalonde, James Lunney, Deepak Obhrai, Bernard Patry, Glen Douglas Pearson, Hon. Bob Rae and Dave Van Kesteren.

Acting Members present: Yves Lessard for Johanne Deschamps and Jim Maloway for Paul Dewar.

In attendance: Library of Parliament: James Lee, Analyst.

The Committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to Committee business.

It was agreed, — That the following witnesses be invited to appear before the Committee as part of the study on the situation at Rights & Democracy: Maxime Longangué and Micheline Lévesque; Razmik Panossian, Charles Vallerand and Marie-France Cloutier; Aurel Braun, Jacques Gauthier, David Matas and Brad Farquhar; Suzanne Trépanier and Payam Akhavan; Ed Broadbent, Joe Clark and Warren Allmand; and Gérard Latulippe.

At 11:35 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Carmen DePape Clerk of the Committee

2010/03/24 4:02 p.m.

http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=4375122&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=40&Ses=3

Kady O'Malley Detects Ambiguity in Lawrence Cannon's Attitude to R&D Matter

CBC reporter Kady O'Malley did a "live blog" of the March 16 Commons Foreign Affairs and International Development Committee evidence given by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.  She suggests that Mr. Cannon is not entirely comfortable with the responses prepared for him to give with regard to the current crisis at the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development..  This matter was raised by several of the opposition members of the Committee

"Cannon is doing his best to extend that arm as far as his tendons allow; White doesn't seem much more eager to wade in, in fact, as far as whether or not it is appropriate for R&D to hire an outside auditing firm. Interesting. You almost get the feeling Cannon actually wants -- or isn't dead set against the idea of -- the idea of the committee going gumshoe."
http://www.cbc.ca/politics/insidepolitics/2010/03/maybe-the-minister-wants-to-talk-rights-and-democracy-in-public---liveblogging-lawrence-cannon-at-fo.html

"White" is Gordon White, Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Finance and Operations.

According to the Minutes of the Meeting: "It was agreed, That the Committee undertake a study of the situation at Rights & Democracy (International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development)."
http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspxDocId=4354966&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=40&Ses=3

Later: Braun and Gauthier will appear before the C'tee next Tuesday (March 23) and Latulippe on the 30th:
http://www.cbc.ca/politics/insidepolitics/2010/03/rightsdemocracywatch-meanwhile-in-another-part-of-the-parliamentary-forest.html

Unanimous Resolution of Quebec Legislature on International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development

Situation à Droits et Démocratie - Amir Khadir fait adopter une motion défendant l'indépendance de Droits et Démocratie

QUÉBEC, le 11 mars /CNW Telbec/ - Alors que l'organisation Droits et Démocratie traverse une grave crise, l'Assemblée nationale du Québec a adopté, à l'initiative d'Amir Khadir, une motion en faveur de l'indépendance de l'institution. La motion déposée par le député de Mercier, conjointement avec Robert Dutil, ministre responsable des Affaires intergouvernementales canadiennes, a été adoptée à l'unanimité par les parlementaires québécois. Elle se lit comme suit : «Que l'Assemblée nationale du Québec exprime sa reconnaissance pour le travail exemplaire de l'organisation Droits et Démocratie au niveau international et souhaite voir préserver l'indépendance de cette institution afin d'en protéger la crédibilité et la pérennité.» «Je tiens particulièrement à saluer les employés de Droits et Démocratie et à leur exprimer ma solidarité dans l'épreuve qu'ils traversent, a déclaré M. Khadir. Certains membres du personnel devaient être présents à l'Assemblée pour le dépôt de la motion, mais se sont finalement abstenus par peur de représailles, ce qui en dit long sur le climat de terreur qui règne aujourd'hui sur l'organisme.» La crise à Droit et Démocratie a été provoquée pas ce que de nombreux observateurs qualifient d'ingérence politique de la part du gouvernement de Stephen Harper dans la gestion de l'organisme. Le gouvernement a récemment nommé trois administrateurs opposés au financement de groupes de défense des droits de la personne critiques des violations des droits en Israël. Il a aussi nommé Gérard Latulippe au poste de président, personnage controversé, en raison notamment de déclarations sur les immigrants musulmans et sur la mise sous tutelle d'Haïti par la communauté internationale. Ces nominations sont contestées de toutes parts. -30-
http://communiques.gouv.qc.ca/gouvqc/communiques/GPQF/Mars2010/11/c9080.html

The 5th Annual University of Toronto China Conference March 27-28 CHINA: CHANGES AND CHALLENGES

The 5th Annual University of Toronto China Conference March 27-28
CHINA: CHANGES AND CHALLENGES

http://www.utcc.ca/2010/

RIP Arthur Menzies 1916-2010

My thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Menzies' family.  Mr. Menzies was a great inspiration and support to me over the years.  I remember him inviting me as a student to attend at talk by his teacher J.K. Fairbank at the Canadian Embassy in Beijing in the fall of 1978.  Over my years in China Mr. and Mrs. Menzies were characteristically gracious in inviting us students every year for a much appreciated Christmas dinner.  I later visited Mr. Menzies at his house on Maple Lane on a number of occasions and we met up frequently at meetings on China.  His solicitude for Mrs. Menzies when she was mentally confused in her later years was touching to all of us who knew them.  Last year Mr. Menzies came to my talk at the National Archives in Ottawa.  It took him a very long time to shuffle slowly from the door of the Archives to the meeting room and back at the end of the evening, but he appeared unphased by the effort.  He also asked me a very perceptive question that evening which pleased me very much. 

Death Notice in the Globe and Mail: http://v1.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/Deaths.20100309.93224921/BDAStory/BDA/deaths
Report in The Ottawa Citizen about Mr. Menzies's legacy: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Pacific+triumphed+interesting+times/2653452/story.html

Lansdowne Lecture: The past, present and future of Canada-China relations

A podcast of my Lansdowne Lecture "The past, present and future of Canada-China relations" delivered at the University of Victoria on November 20, 2009 can be found at: http://www.capi.uvic.ca/events/past-present-and-future-canada-china-relations.  The full text of the lecture can be read at: http://www.capi.uvic.ca/sites/capi.uvic.ca/files/users/user3/CC_Lansdowne_Charles_Burton_Paper.pdf

Full streaming Video of The Agenda Episode on "China and the West"

Full streaming video of "China and the West: to tame or taunt the Asian tiger?" The Agenda: Live from the Munk Centre for International Studies. TVO Agenda discussion with Sarah Kutulakos, Charles Burton, Wenran Jiang  and Gordon Chang on China and the West at the University of Toronto's Munk Centre on Feb.25, hosted by Steve Paikin. It was broadcast on TVO on Thursday February 2 can be played at: http://www.tvo.org/TVO/WebObjects/TVO.woa?videoid?69672910001

Episode Page: http://www.tvo.org/cfmx/tvoorg/theagenda/index.cfm?page_id=7&bpn=779725&ts=2010-02-25%2020:00:00.0

Gérard Latulippe confimred as President of the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development

Appointment of New President of Rights & Democracy

(No. 90 – March 2, 2010 – 10:20 p.m. ET) The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced the appointment of Gérard Latulippe as President of the Montreal-based International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development (Rights & Democracy).

“Mr. Latulippe’s international background in advancing democratic governance and in strengthening civil society will contribute to the work of Rights & Democracy,” said Minister Cannon. “His breadth of experience in managing international economic development projects and in negotiating complex bilateral agreements will be an asset to the organization.”

Rights & Democracy is a non-partisan organization with an international mandate. It was created by Parliament in 1988 to encourage and support the universal values of human rights, and to promote democratic institutions and practices around the world.

For more information on the organization, consult Rights & Democracy.

- 30 -

For further information, media representatives may contact:

Catherine Loubier
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
613-995-1851

Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-995-1874

Biographical Note

Gérard Latulippe (LLL, University of Montreal, 1966; MA [Commercial Law], University of Ottawa, 1979; GDAS [Business Administration], University of Montreal, 1979; MA [International Politics], Free University of Brussels, 1996) is the National Democratic Institute’s resident director in Haiti. Prior to that, he was the Institute’s country director in Morocco and senior representative in Maghreb.

From 1998 to 2003, Mr. Latulippe served as Executive Vice-President of the Société internationale des organismes de développement économique du Canada [International Society of Economic Development Organizations of Canada]. In 1997, he served as Deputy Under-Secretary assigned to La Francophonie for Quebec’s Department of International Relations. From 1994 to 1997, he was Quebec’s Delegate General in Brussels, responsible for relations with the European Union and the Benelux. From 1989 to 1994, he was Delegate General in Mexico. From 1985 to 1989, he was a member of Quebec’s National Assembly, and also served as Solicitor General. Prior to his distinguished career in politics, Mr. Latulippe practised law, specializing in administrative and labour law.

http://www.international.gc.ca/media/aff/news-communiques/2010/090.aspx

Time to Settle the Rights and Democracy Matter

There is a slew of more negative reports in the national media this morning about the highly questionable decisions of the interim president and board chairman at the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development.  It seems to me that the sooner a new strong and competent president takes over the administration of R&D the better.   As the weeks go by the Institution and its employees become more and more debilitated.  This cannot be a good thing.