Foreign Affairs Committee on March 16th, 2010

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Pursuant to Standing Order 81(5), we're now going to deal with the supplementary estimates as well as the main estimates.

I want to welcome the foreign affairs minister, Mr. Cannon, to the meeting.

As well, to Mr. Edwards and Mr. White, thank you for being here.

We're going to start as we normally do--with your statement, sir. The floor is yours.

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Thank you very much, Chair.

When this committee considered my department's estimates in May of last year, we confronted a world beset by global economic turmoil. A year on, the setting is more stable and Canada's economic recovery is underpinning our international leadership. In the recent Speech from the Throne and in the budget statement, the government reaffirmed the four priorities of Canadian foreign policy, through which we have promoted a strong Canada in a changing world: pursuing economic opportunities for Canada, particularly in growing and emerging markets; strengthening and advancing our relations with the United States of America and with our neighbours and friends in the Americas; contributing to peace and security in Afghanistan as well as preparing for the transition there; and exercising and strengthening our sovereignty over the Arctic.

This foreign policy, colleagues, advances and protects the security and prosperity of Canadians while promoting Canadian values such as freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. For example, Canadian leadership, once again, resulted in an effective condemnation by the United Nations of human rights abuses in Iran.

We will continue to protest, for those who cannot, the flagrant disregard for human rights elsewhere, as we have done in Burma, North Korea, and Zimbabwe.

I was very proud to ratify, on behalf on the Government of Canada, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at the United Nations last week. That ratification underscored our firm commitment to the promotion and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities and to enabling them to participate fully in society.

Following the catastrophe on January 12, 2010, Canada was one of the first donors to respond to the crisis. We are the second largest contributor to the emergency relief and recovery efforts in Haiti, disbursing $135 million in support of appeals from our humanitarian partners on the ground.

In January, we organized a critical meeting of donors and organizations to help Haiti cope with the devastating impact of the earthquake and to start to plan for the formidable long-term task of reconstruction. It is our leadership, dear colleagues, that has contributed to laying the groundwork for the next donors' conference, which will take place in New York and which I will attend.

As the Prime Minister observed in January 2010, in Canada's international year, there is an exceptional opportunity for Canada to lead in a series of important international meetings that will be taking place here in the weeks and months to come.

The most prominent summits are the meetings of the G20 and the G8 leaders in June, respectively, in Toronto and in Muskoka. My department plays a vital role in preparing for these gatherings in providing the secretariat. As chair of the G8 and G20 meetings, the Prime Minister will call for a globally coordinated withdrawal of economic stimulus, as well as a strong deregulation of financial markets and avoidance of protectionism.

As the Prime Minister indicated earlier this year, he will urge more significant investment in maternal and child health in developing countries.

The Prime Minister will, as well, host the North American Leaders' Summit this year, which will focus on sound financial regulation and freer trade as keys to prosperity for the continent as well as for the hemisphere and the world. At these summits, Canada's emphasis will be on meaningful results and accountability that promises are kept. In these important meetings, my department and I support the Prime Minister in his leadership role.

At the end of this month I will chair a meeting of the G8 foreign ministers in Gatineau. It will be the first time this group has ever met in Quebec.

As always when we meet, security issues will be our focus. I intend to advance three key priorities at that meeting. First, we must set the stage on non-proliferation for constructive outcomes in April at the Global Nuclear Security Summit and in May at the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, and discuss recent developments with respect to Iran and North Korea. Second, we must build on the important dialogue that Canada has facilitated between Pakistan and Afghanistan on border issues. Third, we must help fragile countries and regions to build their capacity to address their security vulnerabilities.

Specifically, we need to work with the international community to help the government of Yemen to strengthen its ability to resist terrorism and to prevent it from being a safe haven for al-Qaeda. We also need to do more to disrupt the operations of organized crime groups in Central America and the Caribbean.

I will also chair a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Arctic Ocean coastal states to address our common concerns and to articulate and exercise Canada's sovereignty. This will further advance a key priority for the Canadian government: the affirmation and protection of Canada's sovereignty in the Arctic. Canada's foreign policy objectives in the Arctic complement and reinforce the Canadian government's northern strategy.

We will also put forward Canada's candidacy for a seat on the UN Security Council for the year 2011-12.

Beyond the summitry, the department advances Canada's priorities and foreign policy by other means, often away from the global limelight. Let me briefly detail them here.

With respect to the global economy, the government argues forcefully, and engages with other nations, to avoid protectionism in dealing with the global economic crisis. With respect to our example, with strong financial institutions and regulations, tax cuts and measured stimulus have strengthened our influence worldwide. We have employed that credibility and influence to make the case for a return to fiscal responsibility as the global economy emerges from recession.

The government is actively promoting trade and investment with emerging markets. Visits to China, India, and Korea by the Prime Minister, me, and the Minister of International Trade, as well as the opening of new trade offices, have reinforced those efforts, which are vital for our economic well-being.

We are implementing free trade agreements with Peru and the European Free Trade Association. Parliament will be asked to ratify FTAs with Colombia, Jordan, and Panama. We are also negotiating with the European Union, India, the Republic of Korea, the Caribbean community, and other countries of the Americas.

We have broadened and deepened our relations with our closest ally, the United States, as well as with our other friends and neighbours in the Americas. We have a common experience and mutual interests, to work closely and constructively with the Obama administration to meet common challenges at home and abroad. Our engagement strategy delivers results, such as the easing of the Buy American provision in the U.S. stimulus package.

We have contributed to making the Americas more prosperous, more democratic and more secure. That contribution has involved strengthening ties with key hemispheric partners, as well as sustained engagement in important regional organizations, such as the Organization of American States, in which Canada is celebrating 20 years of membership this month.

It also involves making important investments to combat security threats, as well as continuing to pursue a comprehensive agenda of trade liberalization in the region to promote economic development and combat protectionism. We are thus delivering on our promise to enhance our relations with our friends and neighbours in the Americas, from Haiti to Honduras and throughout the hemisphere.

On Afghanistan, we witnessed many successes in the past years even as we mourn the loss of several of our brave men and women in uniform. The best way that we can honour their noble sacrifice is to continue the vital work there. Even as this department supports preparations for the withdrawal of Canadian Forces in 2011, it also prepares to continue without these forces to advance Canadian diplomatic, development, and security objectives in Afghanistan.

As the expenditures of my department last year and the estimates for the coming year indicate, we are committed to implementing our mandate in a fiscally responsible and effective manner. In these remarks, colleagues, I have not attempted to deal with every event or subject on the agenda for the past year or for the years to come. Instead, I have sketched the diverse concerns with which we must deal on a daily basis. No state can anticipate all challenges or opportunities that it will confront in world affairs, but I firmly believe that we are all well-prepared and well-equipped to deal with whatever arises in the next year.

Mr. Chair and colleagues, I would now be happy to respond to the committee's questions.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Thank you, Minister.

As usual, we will start with the opposition and move our way around. There will be ten minutes of questions and answers. We're going to hold you to that so we can hopefully get in a second round as well, as time permits.

We'll start with Mr. Rae.

I believe you're going to be sharing time with Mr. Patry. The floor is yours. You have ten minutes.

[Bob Rae, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Mr. Cannon, you may be surprised that I actually have a substantive question on foreign policy that I want to ask.

I wanted to touch on the question of the Middle East, which has very recently become a matter of focus once again. In addition to the press release that you put out last week with respect to Canada's position on the approval by the Israeli government of 1,600 new housing units in Jerusalem, I wonder if you could outline for us what steps you are taking and you will take to try to get the peace process back on track and back on the rails. This is such a critically important issue for us and indeed the world.

I will leave it at that. I might have a supplementary question, and then I will give my time to Mr. Patry.

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Pontiac, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Rae, for that question.

I have, over the course of the last year and some, travelled on two occasions to the Middle East. I have had the opportunity of meeting with the foreign minister both in Israel as well as here in Canada. Obviously, we've had discussions on our bilateral relations but as well on the Middle East situation.

As you know, we've always been able to put forward Canada's position. Canada's position is one that calls upon the parties to jump-start or at least to sit down and have peace discussions, following the road map in the Annapolis peace process that was put there. We firmly believe in two sovereign states living side by side in harmony, and that is the position that the Government of Canada has put forward.

On the expansion into east Jerusalem, we feel that this is contrary to international law and therefore condemn it. We are very concerned with what is taking place now. Let me tell you how we will deal with this and what we are doing. We are in discussions with like-minded countries as well as with our partner from Israel and the Arab world. I have participated in numerous meetings, whether they be meetings that were held not long ago in Marrakesh—I might be mistaken on that, but I believe it's there—the BMENA meeting, which bridges G8 countries as well as countries from that part of the world. We will be discussing this issue as well, as the G8 foreign ministers meet and gather in Gatineau at the end of the month.

There are initiatives that are undertaken. Canada is extremely supportive of the peace process of course. I have mentioned this before. When we do meet, whether it is Canada or the other countries of the G8 and like-minded countries who are seeking to establish a peace process there, we do push the parties to that position.

[Bob Rae, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

I have one brief supplementary.

Minister, could you tell us if in the last week you've spoken to your Israeli counterpart, Mr. Lieberman, or to your knowledge has the Prime Minister spoken to Prime Minister Netanyahu?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Pontiac, QC]

I haven't spoken to Minister Lieberman in the past week. I might be mistaken, but I do believe the Prime Minister has had discussions over the last 48 hours with Prime Minister Netanyahu.

[Bob Rae, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Can you tell us something about those discussions?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Pontiac, QC]

No, I'm not in a position to tell you about the discussions.

[Bob Rae, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Okay. Thank you.

That's it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Mr. Patry.

[Bernard Patry, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Minister, regarding the Canadian presence in Afghanistan, the Canadian population truly feels that the Department of Foreign Affairs is simply passively accepting decisions made by the Department of Defence.

There is something I would like to know. First, in the supplementary estimates, loans worth $450 million were approved to erase the government of Pakistan's debt, so that the country could invest in education-oriented programs. What was the basis of negotiations for debt forgiveness and what do the educational programs in which the government of Pakistan has committed to invest consist of? In addition—and this if even more important when it comes to Pakistan—what follow-up mechanisms have been put in place to ensure the monitoring of these commitments and to ensure that the government of Pakistan delivers on them?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Pontiac, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Patry.

First, allow me to say that Canada is one of the countries contributing to the improvement of security, governance and development in Afghanistan. Our men and women in uniform, diplomats, but also development specialists are over there risking their lives. The government must spend accordingly to guarantee their safety and ensure that they are fulfilling their duties. This goes without saying.

The Canadian government regularly and publicly reports to Canadians on the cost of its mission through annual performance reports, plans and priorities submitted to the department, and other public communications.

The total cost of the mission for the department, from 2001 to 2011, has been estimated at $536 million. Much of that money will be spent in the later stages of the mission. This year, the department has earmarked $153 million for the Afghanistan mission in 2009-2010. This contribution includes the cost of programs and functioning of the headquarters, the embassy, the Kandahar airfields and the provincial reconstruction team. The total cost of the Afghanistan mission for the Government of Canada, from 2001 to 2011, is currently estimated at $11.3 billion, without taking into consideration costs related to health care and veterans disability pensions after 2011.

[Bernard Patry, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Mr. Minister, a recent Ottawa newspaper article reported that the department would postpone its decision to deploy 400 headquarters employees to field postings throughout the world. It would appear that everything is done in Ottawa, that is, at the foreign affairs department and nothing in the field.

Could you tell me why the employees will not be deployed?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Pontiac, QC]

On the contrary, we will deploy staff, but we will do it gradually. I will let the deputy minister outline our plan, but the government is committed to going through with it.

Mr. Deputy Minister.

[Leonard Edwards, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade]

Thank you, Mr. Minister.

We have continued to transfer our headquarters staff overseas. In recent years, we have assigned almost 100 people to our missions outside of Canada. We will continue with this practice this year with a number of other transfers. This means that the staff transfers we have been promising over the last few years will continue. Our priority is to increase our total workforce outside of Canada because our overseas network is the government's most important value added.

[Bernard Patry, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Thank you very much, Mr. Patry.

We'll now move to Madame Deschamps for 10 minutes.

[Johanne Deschamps, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will share my time with my colleague.

Good day, Mr. Minister. Ten minutes with you is very little. A number of things have taken place on the national and international stages since our long break. We had a lot of time off. Consequently, we have a number of questions to ask you.

For instance, regarding the emergency relief afforded to Haiti, did the funds allocated to the Haiti earthquake relief fund consist entirely of new money, or was a portion of this funding reallocated from other envelopes, or from aid already assigned to the Haiti program?

Also, would it be possible to provide us with a report on emergency funding provided for Canadian and international NGOs, or for multilateral agencies?

Finally, I would like to know who has the responsibility, in Canada, to report on and supervise Canadian assistance to Haiti?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Pontiac, QC]

Could you repeat your last question, Ms. Deschamps?

[Johanne Deschamps, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Who has the responsibility, in Canada, to report on and supervise Canadian assistance? Who coordinates these operations?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Pontiac, QC]

First, allow me to say that the department, under the authority of Ms. Oda, plays a key role in the delivery of assistance. This goes without saying, since the budgets are determined by her department. The sums of money that were allocated as part of the Canadian response come from pre-approved budgets. These moneys come from crisis emergency funds. Perhaps Mr. White could explain further.

These sums are set aside annually. When a crisis erupts, we can withdraw sums of money to address immediate needs. I am told that Canadians have donated almost $154 million, and the government will donate an equivalent amount, that is, $154.4 million to the earthquake relief fund. Mr. White could provide you with more information about this.

So where does this crisis pool...?

[Gordon White, Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Finance and Operations, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade]

Mr. Chair, my understanding is that this is consolidated and provided for emergency management for government departments that are in the same position that we and CIDA were in with respect to the Haiti crisis.

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Pontiac, QC]

Could you repeat your first question, Ms. Deschamps?

[Johanne Deschamps, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Would it be possible to provide us with a written document outlining the assistance afforded the Canadian NGOs and international organizations?