Susan Whelan

[Iraq, March 20th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I said very clearly that Canada has already provided assistance to Iraq through contingency planning efforts, assistance that goes to the UNHCR, to the world food program, and to UNICEF. We have just received the Red Cross appeal today. We are taking it under very serious consideration and we will do more.

[Iraq, March 20th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I think Canada's commitment in Afghanistan very clearly shows its commitment to humanitarian and reconstruction assistance when it needs to be there. So far in Iraq we have provided up to $40 million since 1990 in humanitarian needs for the refugees, the children and the people of Iraq who have required humanitarian assistance.

We are in the process of reviewing the proposals that are in front of us. There are many appeals that will be put in front of us. The first one arrived today, the Red Cross appeal. We are looking at that very carefully and I will have further news in the coming days.

[Iraq, March 20th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has responded to the original initial appeal contingency planning by meeting its commitment of 3%. We have just received today an appeal from the Red Cross. We anticipate we will be receiving more appeals on humanitarian assistance. We will evaluate each one of them carefully and will have further news in the coming days.

[Iraq, March 18th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, yesterday we announced an additional $250 million to be committed to Afghanistan for the next two years. Part of that money will go for peace and security and maintaining the rule of law. We are working very actively on the constitution in Afghanistan. Money that we have already contributed is going toward fixing it. We recognize that the women in Afghanistan have a large problem and that is why we are very convinced that constitutional law is one area where Canada can have some input and have some respect. We hope to be able to ensure that women have access to education and other opportunities in Afghanistan as well.

[Question No. 116, March 17th, 2003]

Canadian official development assistance disbursements to St. Lucia from fiscal year 1993-94 to fiscal year 2001-02 were approximately $36.3 million.

[Foreign Aid, March 17th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the government I am pleased to announce that Canada has pledged today $250 million in new money over the next two years.

This commitment is the largest single country pledge ever made by CIDA and the funding will go to priority areas that are identified by the Afghan government, including humanitarian assistance, security, agriculture and the government itself.

[Iraq, February 18th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, we have been involved in humanitarian efforts in Iraq since 1991, and in the surrounding area. There is presently a contingency planning effort going on by the United Nations call for $37 million. We have already committed $1.7 million to that. The new call came yesterday for $123 million from all countries and we are looking at that. We definitely are looking at the humanitarian needs of Iraq.

[International Cooperation, February 18th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I am sure the hon. member knows that one-fifth of the world's absolute poor live in China. The mandate of my department is to reduce poverty through sustainable development.

Around the world we are working with countries where there are poor people. We are working on human rights issues in China, which I believe are very important to most members of the House, and we will continue to work with the absolute poor in China.

[International Cooperation, February 18th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I think we will have to wait until this afternoon to see what the budget has to say about dollars, but I can assure the hon. member that indeed we work with reputable organizations and institutions around the world. We do not fund terrorist organizations. We thoroughly vet the organizations and we have reviewed the companies and the organizations that we are working with.

[Canadian International Development Agency, February 10th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, in collaboration with CIDA, have been supporting the awards of excellence in Canadian private sector activities and developments since its inception in 1990.

Gildan Activewear won the award for the management of its plant in Honduras. Gildan Activewear has responded that these third party allegations are groundless, and according to Gildan the employees were let go because of seasonal variation in demand.