OGGO Committee Meeting
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Minutes of Proceedings
Amanda Clarke and Sean Boots made statements and answered questions.
Kelly Block moved, — Given the government has spent 9 million dollars of taxpayer money on a luxury condo located on ''Billionaires Row'' in New York City for the Consul General, the committee order Global Affairs Canada to produce a list, within 14 days of this motion being adopted, of all properties including the addresses and listing prices of those that were visited or considered for purchase for the official residence of the consulate general in New York, and the committee call the following witnesses to testify:
the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly;
the Consul General of Canada in New York, United Sates, Tom Clark;
the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and other representatives from the department.
Debate arose thereon.
Julie Vignola moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “a luxury condo located on ''Billionaires Row'' in New York City” with the words “an apartment in Manhattan, New York”;
By replacing the words:
''the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly;
the Consul General of Canada in New York, United States, Tom Clark;
the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and other representatives from the department.'' with the words:
''the Consul General of Canada in New York, U.S.A., Tom Clark;
the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and other departmental representatives;
representatives from Public Services and Procurement Canada and the Treasury Board, as well as a panel of New York City real estate agents; and
the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, if the committee deems it necessary after hearing the other witnesses.''
And, by adding the following:
''And that these meetings be held between August 19 and August 27, 2024, inclusively, and that apart from these three additional meetings, the committee hold no additional meetings before September 9, 2024, with the exception of meetings pursuant to Standing Order 106(4)''.
Debate arose thereon.
On motion of Ali Ehsassi, it was agreed, — That the amendment be amended by replacing the words “14 days” with the words “21 days”, and by adding, after the words ''if the committee deems it necessary after hearing the other witnesses'', the following:
''; other relevant witnesses, to be submitted by the parties by Monday, August 12, 2024''.
The debate continued on the amendment of Julie Vignola, as amended.
On motion of Ron McKinnon, it was agreed, — That the amendment be amended by adding the words “and request, if available, any independent third party assessment of the value of the property in that market, within 21 days,” after the words “consulate general in New York”.
After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Julie Vignola, as amended, and it was agreed to.
After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.
The motion, as amended, read as follows:
Given the government has spent 9 million dollars of taxpayer money on an apartment in Manhattan, New York, for the Consul General, the committee order Global Affairs Canada to produce a list, within 21 days of this motion being adopted, of all properties including the addresses and listing prices of those that were visited or considered for purchase for the official residence of the consulate general in New York, and request, if available, any independent third party assessment of the value of the property in that market, within 21 days, and the committee call the following witnesses to testify:
the Consul General of Canada in New York, U.S.A., Tom Clark;
the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and other departmental representatives;
representatives from Public Services and Procurement Canada and the Treasury Board, as well as a panel of New York City real estate agents; and
the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, if the committee deems it necessary after hearing the other witnesses;
other relevant witnesses, to be submitted by the parties by Monday, August 12, 2024.
And that these meetings be held between August 19 and August 27, 2024, inclusively, and that apart from these three additional meetings, the committee hold no additional meetings before Monday, September 9, 2024, with the exception of meetings pursuant to Standing Order 106(4).
Questioning of the witnesses resumed.
At 1:21 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.