Susan Whelan

[Iraq, April 7th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, we are closely monitoring the situation on the ground. We are extremely concerned about the current situation in Iraq.

I was briefed this morning and I know UNICEF has successfully transported medical supplies and water purifiers. I also know that the WFP has been able to transport tonnes of wheat and flour into northern Iraq. We are closely monitoring the situation.

We recognize that some of the last steps are working with U.S. soldiers. We are working very closely to ensure that humanitarian assistance is getting to where it needs to go.

[Health, April 2nd, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, as I said yesterday, Canada has committed $100 million U.S. to the global health fund and has paid its first two installments.

We have taken the HIV-AIDS file very seriously within CIDA and we are increasing our spending from $20 million to $80 million per year for a total of $270 million over five years. We have invested $50 million in the vaccine fund to find a vaccine for HIV and AIDS. Obviously Canada is taking its contributions and its role very seriously.

[Health, April 1st, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has been meeting its commitment to the global health fund. We committed $100 million U.S. We have paid our first two instalments and will pay another instalment this year. On top of that, we have quadrupled the amount of money we are spending on HIV-AIDS from $20 million to $80 million per year. We put $50 million into the vaccine, particularly for sub-Saharan and all of Africa, to find a vaccine for HIV and AIDS. Canada is definitely doing its part.

[Iraq, March 26th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the member's accusations are absolutely false. The government has been working very actively for a number of months on humanitarian assistance and how we could get that humanitarian assistance into Iraq.

Very clearly, I told the House and I have told everyone who has asked about the $5.6 million in contingency planning. Very clearly, the $100 million we are allocating today will be going through different UN and other multilateral organizations that have a footprint on the ground and that can deliver the food, the water and the health and security needs that are needed in Iraq.

[Iraq, March 26th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, as the Prime Minister said, we are announcing today that the Government of Canada will be contributing $100 million in aid to help the vulnerable people of Iraq. Very clearly, we have already provided $5.6 million to a contingency planning fund to work through different multilateral organizations that have plans to deliver humanitarian assistance. We are going to be working with those organizations to ensure that our dollars go to providing the food, the health care and the water needed for the people of Iraq.

[Health, March 24th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada, through the Canadian International Development Agency, has taken a leadership role in the fight against tuberculosis in developing countries.

We have made a real difference in the lives of millions of people who have come into contact with this disease each and every year. We have committed $80 million over the next four years to the Stop TB Partnership, and I announced today that we will contribute $10.4 million of that to treat and control the spread of the disease of tuberculosis in developing countries. This new money will have an immediate impact in the lives of over 100 million people.

[Iraq, March 24th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, as the Prime Minister has said and has stated in the House, Canada hopes every country will do its part for reconstruction efforts. Of course we expect the United States to be part of this but Canada also will work in collaboration with other countries under the umbrella of the United Nations.

[Iraq, March 24th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has indicated that Canada will be providing humanitarian assistance as well as support for reconstruction efforts undertaken in a multilateral context. We will be working very closely with the United Nations and other multilateral institutions to plan the delivery of humanitarian aid in Iraq.

We are expecting an appeal this week on Wednesday from the United Nations on that very subject and we have committed ourselves to be there after for reconstruction.

[International Cooperation, March 20th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, on Monday we announced $250 million of new funding for Afghanistan in four priority areas: supporting rural livelihoods and social protection, managing natural resources, strengthening security and the rule of law, and providing continued support to the government of Afghanistan.

We are doing specific things to promote women's rights in Afghanistan. We have spoken out often about the human rights violations against women and about the rights that women and children in Afghanistan need to have. We support the courageous efforts of the many of the small Afghan NGOs that are operating and providing education in health to women in Afghanistan. We support the Afghan's ministry of women's affairs and we have contributed $1 million to the United Nations.

[Iraq, March 20th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, we work with a number of UN partners and we will be receiving a number of appeals. We have just received an appeal from the Red Cross. We are taking a very serious look at that. Canada is doing its part and will do its part in humanitarian aid.