Foreign Affairs committee  Obviously Canada greatly supports the democratic movement in Burma.

Foreign Affairs committee  Canada maintains relations with states, not with governments. So it is rather difficult to recognize the government in exile. We nevertheless have discussions from time to time to check whether the actions of the Government of Canada are consistent with the hopes of the democratic movement in Burma.

Foreign Affairs committee  That's a very good question. I can say that the first set of measures, taken as a package, were largely a result of the actions of the government in Burma, the massive crackdown on peaceful protests in Burma in 1988. The Canadian government had always been concerned about things that were happening in Burma, but that historical event, where the security forces were shooting indiscriminately into crowds and killing people, led us then to start to look at what we could do.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you very much. They're both very pertinent questions and are much appreciated. I'll start with Mr. Wilfert's questions. First, regarding what we're doing diplomatically with other countries, and you have named three very key players in mentioning China and India and ASEAN, we're very conscious of the role these neighbours have in bringing influence to bear on Burma.

Foreign Affairs committee  Merci, Mr. Chairman, honourable members, mesdames et monsieurs. Burma has been ruled by successive military-led governments since the early 1960s. The current Burmese regime consistently violates the human rights of its people. Forced relocation, rape by the military, extrajudicial killings, forced labour, the use of child soldiers, arbitrary arrest and detention, and the persecution of ethnic minorities commonly occur.

National Defence committee  As the minister said, we have been backstopping what the British have been doing. They have kind of a four-part plan that tries to disrupt the drug trade by targeting the traffickers and then strengthening rural livelihoods. CIDA does a lot of work on sustainable livelihoods, and that's meant to do that.