Evidence of meeting #25 for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was honduras.
A recording is available from Parliament.
11:55 a.m.
Conservative
Peter Kent Conservative Thornhill, ON
—but I believe that by re-engaging we can do more to encourage, again, the justice system to work properly for violence against women and minorities, indigenous people, but also to address the issues of social injustice that will take the—
11:55 a.m.
NDP
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
I'm just curious. During this time it was asked—I was one of them—that we suspend cooperation between the two countries on military and DFAIT affairs. The U.S. has done that, and others.
11:55 a.m.
NDP
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
But there was some reluctance at the beginning. I'm just curious why there was a reluctance.
11:55 a.m.
Conservative
Peter Kent Conservative Thornhill, ON
Well, the Canadian MTAP, the military training assistance program, is fairly low-profile. It's a training program, language training—
11:55 a.m.
Conservative
Peter Kent Conservative Thornhill, ON
—and it was paused. There was disengagement.
With regard to CIDA's aid, there were no government-to-government transfers of funds.
11:55 a.m.
Conservative
11:55 a.m.
NDP
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
You're confident that it's something we should continue with at this point?
11:55 a.m.
Conservative
Peter Kent Conservative Thornhill, ON
I believe so. Again, we agree with the list of countries that hold the same position: Panama; the neighbouring countries; El Salvador, which was magnificently restrained throughout the whole crisis year; Mexico; and the United States.
11:55 a.m.
NDP
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
It's a very quick one. It's about Cuba.
I just wonder if you've been able to deal with the issue around the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and his lack of access to you. I know he had set up a lunch with you, and the visa was restricted. I've written a letter to the minister. Has that been ironed out, and have you looked into it?
11:55 a.m.
Conservative
Peter Kent Conservative Thornhill, ON
To my knowledge, we're working on it. The visa was denied on the basis of his history. As you know, any number of other ministers come to Canada regularly, but they are not encumbered by--
11:55 a.m.
NDP
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
He was here for five years. He served here and was in Washington. He was known.
11:55 a.m.
Conservative
Peter Kent Conservative Thornhill, ON
Yes. His history was known. I don't know when he was proscribed or when he was listed as someone not to be allowed into Canada.
11:55 a.m.
Conservative
Peter Kent Conservative Thornhill, ON
It was a surprise to us. But a ministerial permit is always required to be able to get around. The visa was issued--
11:55 a.m.
Conservative
