Susan Whelan

[Iraq, May 2nd, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, it is quite obvious, and it has been stated several times by the Prime Minister and by members on this side of the House, that we do indeed want the UN to have a vital role. We have heard the President of United States and the prime minister from the UK say very clearly that the UN would have a vital role.

We are working with the UN. We are working with a number of our international partners on the ground to ensure that humanitarian aid and assistance gets to the people in need and meets the needs of the Iraqi people.

[International Aid, May 1st, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, Canada recognizes that famine has caused a critical situation for the people of Eritrea. As a result, Canada has committed an additional $3 million to provide emergency assistance to help purchase and distribute food aid to drought and war affected Eritreans. As part of our contribution, $1 million will be contributed to UNICEF to undertake an emergency water supply and sanitation program to provide clean water to those affected. This brings Canada's total contribution to $4.2 million to assist those in Eritrea.

I thank the hon. member and other members on this side of the House for having raised this very serious issue.

[Health, April 30th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I was in China in early January. I believe the dates were January 9 to January 12. SARS had not been identified by the World Health Organization as a concern in China at that time. During my visit I was never made aware of any information regarding the early stages of SARS.

[Health, April 29th, 2003]

No, Mr. Speaker.

[Iraq, April 10th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, that is exactly what we have done by announcing that we will contribute $100 million and immediately allocate $20 million to United Nations agencies, working with UNICEF, working with the ICRC, working with the World Food Program.

We recognize that they have the footprint on the ground so that they can deliver the water and the food and the medical needs for the children and the people of Iraq. They can address the needs of the Iraqi people right now.

[Iraq, April 10th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has already made a commitment of $100 million, of which $20 million has been immediately allocated, a number of which are UN partners, UNICEF, the World Food Program, the International Red Cross. We recognize that they can get aid to the people. Canada has made that decision.

The main challenge facing humanitarian agencies right now is gaining access to the civilian population. We are trying to work with that.

[Iraq, April 10th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has said several times, we have said it over and over again, we are going to be involved in reconstruction.

We have been involved in humanitarian aid. Certainly we are actively working on Canada's role and Canada's position and what we are going to be able to do, starting first with how we can meet the needs of the Iraqi people, how we can ensure that their humanitarian needs are met first, what role we can play in reconstruction and what services Canada has to offer. We are definitely working on that.

[Canadian International Development Agency, April 9th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian International Development Agency will be contributing $6 million over five years to a Saskatchewan-Manitoba-Alberta government partnership to help provide technical assistance in agriculture for the Ukraine. One of the common themes that came out of our new policy on agriculture, released last week, is that we need to harness Canadian expertise. It is a good example of how Canadian expertise in agriculture will help another country like Ukraine move forward.

I want to thank the member for St. Catharines for his diligent hard work in working with the people from Ukraine.

[Iraq, April 7th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has clearly indicated its willingness to participate in reconstruction efforts with the UN playing a central role alongside the coalition, the expected Iraqi transitional authority and other international partners.

I have had productive conversations with a number of my counterparts, including those in the United States, to discuss the ways in which the international community can best respond to the needs of the Iraqi people. We will work toward reconstruction.

[Canadian Forces, April 7th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, we have been very clear. We have said very clearly that the United States is one of our allies and partners and that we expect to be part of the reconstruction process. We intend to participate and we fully believe that the United Nations will play a role in this.