Foreign Affairs Committee on May 3rd, 2007

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

I welcome you back here. We are in meeting number 53 of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, moving into committee business. We have been discussing our draft report, but now we're in committee business.

Mr. Wilfert has brought forward a motion, and I'm going to ask him to read his motion and speak to it, please.

[Bryon Wilfert, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

The motion reads:

That pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development call on senior officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade to provide the Committee with a comprehensive and detailed briefing on the Government's current strategy and involvement in the Horn of Africa, specifically Somalia.

As you know, Mr. Chairman, colleagues, the transitional federal government of Somalia is facing significant challenges. Obviously, if we're talking about failed states, as we have in the past, this is certainly one. The issues obviously of extremism, warlordism, etc., are there, and responding to a number of colleagues who have approached me with regard to this issue, I thought it would be appropriate—and I'm not asking to take up more than one session—to certainly get us up to speed on the situation. Of course, we have also a large diaspora in Canada. There have also been requests that we, at least, as members of the foreign affairs committee, be brought up to speed as to the current situation.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

All right.

Mr. Khan, would you—?

[Wajid Khan, Conservative, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Government of Canada is deeply concerned about the instability that has characterized Somalia for several years, and that has particularly characterized it in the last month. It has had an impact on human rights and political circumstances. I think the transitional government has proposed the formation of a national reconciliation congress, which has now been delayed till June 14. However, the government will encourage the transitional government to work towards an inclusive solution.

I support the motion. It is important that we do that and invite the senior officials of DFAIT.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

All right.

We have Madame Barbot and then Ms. Nash.

Madame Barbot.

[Vivian Barbot, Bloc, Papineau, QC]

The French version of the notice of motion is incomplete. It should read "Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2)"; that's what is written in English. I should also point out that I agree with the motion. I think that it's crucial that we hold hearings on this issue.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Thank you for taking note of that, Madame Barbot, so we can see that it be added to the written text.

Madame Nash and then Madame Lalonde.

[Peggy Nash, NDP, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I am fully supportive of this motion. There are many members of the Somali diaspora in my community, and I hear from them about the extreme circumstances of the Somali population. I know our foreign affairs critic, Alexa McDonough, wrote to the minister a couple of months ago about this. We've yet to receive a reply on it.

It would be very helpful to get an up-to-date analysis about the situation. Hopefully, that will lead us to some recommendations, because the situation, from media reports, seems increasingly dire.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

All right. Thank you, Ms. Nash.

Madame Lalonde.

[Francine Lalonde, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

Mr. Chairman, I hope that Mr. Wilfert is listening.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Mr. Wilfert is here.

[Bryon Wilfert, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

I haven't gone anywhere.

[Francine Lalonde, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

I hope that he will agree to a friendly amendment to include the words "and from CIDA", because the international aid Canada provides is important, as is the fact that Ethiopia receives a lot of aid.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Thank you, Madame Lalonde.

Mr. Wilfert, you have been asked for a friendly amendment to include CIDA representatives.

[Bryon Wilfert, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

Since it was posed in a friendly manner, I'll be more than happy to do so.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

All right.

Mr. Khan.

[Wajid Khan, Conservative, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

Mr. Chair, I think it is imperative that we first learn what efforts the Government of Canada is making, what it is proposing, and to have the senior officials of DFAIT come. You can always get the minister for CIDA to come back after, but I think we need to educate ourselves—

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Well, we aren't asking for the minister, because—

[Wajid Khan, Conservative, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

It's the senior officials who are to come. Sorry, I take that back. Yes, it's the officials.

There's no objection to that, but I think we need to understand the situation better and see what the government has done so far.

[Francine Lalonde, Bloc, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

And that includes international aid.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

You know what? I still think we can do this in one session and have them both here together. I'd accept that as a friendly amendment.

Is there anyone else on this?

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

We do have our delegation here, so perhaps we'll suspend for one moment. We'll meet with them, and then we'll have them come in and sit down. I hope no one is going to leave. I hope we can have 15 to 20 minutes. Are we all right?

So much for my hopes and dreams. Mr. Dosanjh thwarts them once again.

[A voice]

You can still have your dreams.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

I can still have my dreams, just not my hopes.

All right, we'll suspend.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

I call this meeting back to order.

It's a real pleasure today to have some guests with us. I can tell you that when we as a committee travel abroad, it's always something we look forward to when we can meet with other parliamentarians and with other committees.

On behalf of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, I would like to welcome His Excellency Jaime José Matos da Gama, Speaker of the Portuguese Parliament, and members of the Portuguese Parliament. We have four different parties represented here from Portugal.

I think some very exciting things are happening in Portugal, and we appreciate a warm relationship with Portugal.

For the committee's understanding, this July—it's either June or July—Portugal will assume the responsibility of the EU presidency until December. I think Germany at the present time has the presidency in the EU. Portugal will step into their role. I know that's something Portugal has looked forward to, and rightfully so. After Portugal, Slovenia will assume the presidency. This all transpires over 18 months, and it began in December 2006.

The central issues of the program are the continuation of the EU’s reform and constitutional process; the implementation of the Lisbon strategy for growth and employment; further progress towards the completion of the European area of freedom, security, and justice; and strengthened cooperation regarding EU joint action on foreign policy.

In light of the trio program, there is much potential for continued cooperation between Canada and the EU in the areas of trade and investment, peace and security, and environment and energy challenges throughout Germany, Portugal, and Slovenia.

A transatlantic dialogue meeting is expected to be held between Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs and his EU counterparts under the Portuguese presidency. That would mean sometime between June and December.

I know the committee members are looking forward to hearing from you.

I've mentioned the members of Parliament, but I haven't mentioned His Excellency, the Portuguese Ambassador to Canada.

We've had the opportunity to meet a number of times now. A number of our committee members met with you last night, as did our Speaker. We certainly did appreciate the time we had there last night, visiting and getting to know you a little bit better.

I'm going to ask His Excellency if he would introduce the members of his delegation.

As well, tell us a little bit about what you've done while you've been here. I know you've visited the western part of Canada, and you've been to Toronto and other places. Perhaps you could tell us a little bit about how long you will be in Canada and what you want to achieve while you're here. Then you can take some questions from our committee.

Your Excellency.