Foreign Affairs Committee on May 6th, 2024

[Sameer Zuberi, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you, Minister, for being here and for the amazing work of your team in promoting international development and Canada's presence on the international stage.

My first question is going to be around the Humanitarian Coalition.

There are a number of amazing humanitarian groups in Canada that do very important work. The Humanitarian Coalition is composed of respected humanitarian organizations. There are some others that are not currently in this coalition.

Can you elaborate on any criteria that could allow those others who aren't inside to enter? Can you elaborate upon that and give us some understanding?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

I will begin by saying that on the crisis in Gaza—the war between Israel and Hamas—we have been very concerned from the very beginning about the impact it has had and continues to have on Palestinian civilians. Our commitment to providing life-saving humanitarian aid has been very strong from the very beginning. We were the first western country to respond, with an initial allocation of $60 million. We followed that up with an additional $40 million.

That, again, is the recognition that we should be guided by the principle of making sure that Canada continues to provide life-saving assistance to anyone in the region who needs it, even to the point of embarking on airdrops when it was difficult to reach northern Gaza and joining allies in doing that.

On the mechanics of who gets to join the Humanitarian Coalition, I'm going to turn to Deputy MacLennan to provide details on that.

[Sameer Zuberi, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Answer briefly, please.

[Christopher MacLennan]

The Humanitarian Coalition is not a Canadian government organization. It's a grouping of Canadian humanitarian organizations. They have their own set of criteria as to who can join and who has decided not to join for various reasons. It's really up to the coalition itself.

[Sameer Zuberi, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

That's helpful. I raise it only because of matching funds that have been given to the coalition. Sometimes groups outside of the coalition ask for matching funds. I hope that you, in the future, will consider those requests. I'm sure you do already, but it's just on that particular point.

Minister, you started to touch upon a point that I wanted to elaborate on.

You have spoken to this already in part, around UNRWA, and around the nightmare that we are seeing occur within Gaza with the humanitarian crisis that is occurring there. Our allies, including America, have highlighted and pinpointed that much more unimpeded humanitarian aid needs to get into Gaza. Our allies, including America, have stated as such.

First, can you tell us why UNRWA is so important for the delivery of that aid?

Second, can you tell us anything in addition to this that you would like to share in terms of Canada's record with respect to stepping in during this crisis, this nightmare?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Thank you.

I have been to Rafah, and I have seen first-hand the number of trucks that are stuck at the border. There are thousands of trucks. There were at least 2,000 when I was there. They had been at the border for more than 21 days.

That aid needs to get through. The process that was in place at that time was too cumbersome and time-consuming. There have been improvements recently, with the opening of the Erez border crossing. That has allowed Jordan to cut through the West Bank and deliver aid to northern Gaza, which is a priority for all of us because northern Gaza has famine-like conditions, according to the head of the World Food Programme, Cindy McCain.

The fact is that international humanitarian law calls for the unimpeded access of both aid and humanitarian workers. That's been the Canadian position. We've worked with our partners to make sure we're there not only to provide aid but also to ensure that we're doing everything we can to have the aid go in, including by pursuing airdrops. For various reasons, the trucks were not able to make it to the northern Gaza population. Therefore, we embarked on airdrops, together with many like-minded countries, and we'll continue to do that.

The amount of aid and the conditions under which humanitarian workers have to operate inside Gaza are not optimal. They are far from acceptable. Based on our monitoring of the situation, we continue to call for better, unimpeded access for both aid and workers.

[Sameer Zuberi, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

In the minute that's left, I'd like to ask you about Sudan and the important work you have done with your team to step in during this humanitarian crisis, in which over 15,000 people have died since the civil war started in April 2023.

Can you elaborate, please?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

The conflict in Sudan is very concerning, because it has led to one of the highest populations of displaced people in the world today, in terms of numbers, both within Sudan, which is a very large country, and also in the region. Our job is to make sure, first of all, that we are contributing to efforts to end the conflict through working with partners. I was able to meet with the last civilian Sudanese prime minister, who has a connection to Canada and who is working very hard to make sure there is a return to democracy in Sudan and an end to the conflict.

We are providing $132 million of aid to trusted partners in Sudan and neighbouring countries to make sure people have the life-saving assistance they need.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Thank you, Minister.

We will now go to Mr. Bergeron.

You have six minutes.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Minister Hussen, thank you for joining us today. This is your first appearance in front of this committee since your appointment last summer. As a former member of the National Assembly, in both the opposition and government, I'm always surprised by how rarely ministers get involved in parliamentary committee business on the Hill in Ottawa. In any case, we're delighted that you're finally here today to discuss the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development's estimates and appropriations for development assistance.

The Bloc Québécois strongly disagreed with the Canadian government's decision to suspend funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, or UNRWA. We were greatly relieved by the decision to reinstate it. We felt that this was the right thing to do, given that Gaza is experiencing one of the worst humanitarian crises in decades and that this wasn't the right time to suspend Canadian aid. In addition, according to a United Nations press release, Israel has yet to provide any evidence to support its allegations that a significant number of UNRWA employees are members of terrorist organizations. It was appropriate to restore funding to this organization, which is likely in the best position to provide effective assistance to Palestinians struggling with the ongoing aggression in their territory.

To even suggest that funding for UNRWA wouldn't be approved seems incredibly insensitive, given the current situation in Gaza.

On that note, and given your observations and your rather worrying description of humanitarian aid in Gaza, what can be done to ensure that the aid reaches its destination in order to avoid the famine predicted by the United Nations?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Given the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, we're reinstating funding for UNRWA as part of our broader commitment to provide urgent assistance to Palestinian civilians facing food shortages and severe restrictions on access to health care.

UNRWA, I agree with you, represents a lifeline for two million Gazans. When it comes to the infrastructure and their networks for being able to distribute the aid very quickly, they're second to none.

What more can we do? We of course need to continue to support UNRWA in their efforts to provide more support to the Palestinians in Gaza, but also to work with other organizations, such as the World Food Programme, the World Health Organization, UNICEF and many others, including Canadian organizations that are on the ground in Gaza providing that life-saving assistance.

Access is also an issue. We need to continue to advocate for access and continue to innovate and use other methods when people are in severe need and the regular methods are not working. That's why we pursued airdrops, together with the Jordanians, the Germans, the Dutch and others, through the World Food Programme, for example.

We also need a ceasefire. We need the conflict to end, so that it will be much easier for humanitarian workers to work in a less dangerous environment.

We need a ceasefire. We need the conflict to end. Ultimately, our government's position is that we need a two-state solution, so we have two states for two peoples living side by side in peace and security.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Thank you, Minister Hussen.

You no doubt know that this committee is currently looking into the whole issue of Canada's presence or involvement in Africa. This must be an important issue when it comes to the francophonie and international trade. I imagine that you're paying special attention to the issue from an international development perspective.

Global Affairs officials admitted that they weren't sure how to approach the matter. First there was talk of an African strategy, an African approach, an African framework, then an African policy, and now they don't even know what to call it. This gives the impression that the government is flying blind when it comes to Africa. Canada has signed many free trade agreements around the world, but none on the African continent, even though Africa has been identified as the next economic El Dorado.

How much of this funding here is specifically earmarked for Africa? Is there an international development vision for Africa in particular, or are things still rather vague?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Thank you.

I would just say that we need to broaden and deepen our engagement with Africa on trade, investment, economic co-operation and international assistance and make Africa foreign policy a priority, but we're not starting from scratch. We're starting from a good place. Already, our international assistance policy commits 50% of all bilateral international development assistance to sub-Saharan African countries.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Thank you very much, Minister.

We next go to Ms. McPherson, who is joining us virtually.

The floor is yours. You have six minutes, Madam McPherson.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister, for being here today to answer our questions. I have a number, so I'll jump right in.

As you know, because I've raised it with you a number of times, I believe that the small and medium organizations in Canada do incredible work, really incredible work. Run through the Inter-Council Network of Provincial and Regional Councils for International Development, they are able to reach Canadians across the country. They are able to do innovative, long-term and very good development work on the ground.

There have been some concerns that there has been underfunding for the small and medium-sized organizations across the country. I'd like to get some information from you on whether or not the pilot initiative will be continued if there is funding allocated in these main estimates to the Canadian small and medium-sized organizations for impact and innovation and the pilot initiative. If there are funds allocated, can you please tell me how much?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

I will start by making a brief remark on this, and then I'll turn to the officials on the specific amount. What I would say very clearly to all the members and the chair of this committee is that I agree with the member. We need to encourage more small, medium and large Canadian-based organizations to feel welcome in our programming, in our funding envelopes and in our projects, and we need to leverage their expertise, their credibility and their knowledge of international development. They do great work, so I agree with the member. We need to do more, but, as the officials will highlight, we're already making progress.

I'll turn to my deputy to provide further detail.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Could those answers be quite concise, please? I have some other questions.

[Christopher MacLennan]

Sure, I'll be very concise.

We don't have specific allotments directly from this year's budget, not because there's not going to be money that flows that way. It's just that it doesn't align directly with the main estimates in that way, but it is a part of the programming. We have 39 SMOs right now that have received ongoing funding, and 50 SMOs have been selected to test innovative solutions using the fund for innovation and transformation, and that will be ongoing.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Thank you. Could you share any details about the dollar amounts that will be going out when they become available? That would be helpful.

[Christopher MacLennan]

Sure.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

We're talking about small and medium organizations here, Minister, and a concern that I have and I've expressed to you many times is around Bill C-41.

A year ago your government pushed through Bill C-41. It significantly changed the way Canadians can do international development work. We were happy that the NDP was successful in amending the legislation to ensure that humanitarian work was exempted from the new authorization regime, but development work, the work you're responsible for, is still within that Bill C-41.

We're over a year in. There is no guidance for Canadian organizations on how to navigate this regime and apply for authorizations from the government. We know there are situations in Sudan, the DRC and elsewhere around the world where this is going to have impacts, so I have two questions for you.

How much development funding for Afghanistan—not humanitarian funding but development funding—has reached Afghanistan since Bill C-41 passed? When will Canadian organizations see the guidance from your government that can help them navigate what is a completely inappropriate, draconian authorization regime?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

I'll answer the second question first, and then I'll turn to the officials for the specific amounts.

There's no doubt that any delays on such important development work are frustrating for all of us. Public Safety is leading this effort, and we're working very closely with them to make the authorization regime operational as soon as possible on the development side of things. We're hopeful that this will launch in the coming months.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

To be perfectly honest, just to interrupt before I get the answer to the first question, there was supposed to be a review after one year. That's in the legislation. That's impossible to do, because you haven't given organizations any of the framework on how to apply for these authorizations. You're in contradiction of the legislation that is supposed to be doing the review.

I will go to your colleagues on the amount that has flowed to Afghanistan since Bill C-41 passed.

[Christopher MacLennan]

On that specific question, we'd have to get back to you in writing in terms of the amount since the time of the passing of the legislation to today, the exact amount on development assistance.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Could you tell me if any has gone?