Afghanistan Committee on April 4th, 2022

[Fayçal El-Khoury, Liberal, Laval—Les Îles, QC]

My second question is for Mr. Thoppil.

Mr. Thoppil, based on how you view the financial situation in Afghanistan, how could Canada stimulate the region's economy to bring more stability there, without formally recognizing the Taliban regime?

[Paul Thoppil]

At this point, Canada does not recognize the Taliban diplomatically. They are officially recognized as a terrorist entity. We also have significant concerns, as the minister has described, about their treatment of women and girls, and, as mentioned, with regard to their inability for education. Therefore, it's very hard for us to recognize them, going forward.

We do understand that stability, economically, is very important. That is why we are very cognizant of the impacts of the people on the ground, and, therefore, the actions we are taking are ones of humanitarian assistance as Canada's contributions to provide some financial stability in the interim.

[Fayçal El-Khoury, Liberal, Laval—Les Îles, QC]

My next question is for anyone who wants to answer it.

A number of Canadian NGOs have emphasized the limited flexibility. What would you recommend to remedy the fact that Canada must turn to the UN to ensure solid and concrete humanitarian assistance?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

I would ask the officials to raise the hand signals so I know which one will answer.

I'll go to Mr. Thoppil in the meantime.

[Paul Thoppil]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

That is a question best addressed by Stephen, and then Jennifer.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Mr. Salewicz, go ahead, please.

[Stephen Salewicz]

Thank you, Chair.

I think the minister was clear in saying that there are a number of different avenues that are being explored in terms of how to address the legal situation. Those are the ones that we have to continue to work on, that offer the.... The legislative system, right now, or the law in place, precludes Canadian NGOs from being active. So that is probably the best solution.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Ms. Loten, you have 15 seconds to respond.

[Jennifer Loten]

I want simply to add that we continue to live in full respect of the Canadian law that is currently in place, and we are providing as much support as we possibly can to the people of Afghanistan through appropriate channels, managed in the international community.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Thank you very much, Mr. El-Khoury. Your time is up.

Now we'll go to Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe for two and a half minutes, please.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

My question is for Mr. Thoppil.

Mr. Thoppil, I will quote the Minister of International Development:

Millions of people in Afghanistan need urgent aid and I will do my best to give them the help they need. I remain committed to helping the Afghan people, and I will work with experienced partners and NGOs to see what more Canada can do to help the Afghan people.

Mr. Thoppil, has your department provided an opinion on amending the Criminal Code, as per NGOs' calls?

[Paul Thoppil]

Mr. Chair, I thank the member for his question.

I think the minister has already answered it.

We are looking at options in terms of how we address the constraints, while honouring the law in the interim.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

I apologize for interrupting you, Mr. Thoppil, but the minister did not answer my question.

Here is my question for you. Has your department provided an opinion on amending the Criminal Code?

I don't want to know whether you are evaluating the options, I want to know whether an opinion has been provided by your department.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Mr. Thoppil, do you want to answer that?

[Paul Thoppil]

Mr. Chair, I thank the member for this clarification.

We continue to look at options to understand what the best way forward is.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

So if I understand correctly, your department has not provided an opinion on amending the Criminal Code to help NGOs.

Is that indeed what you are saying, yes or no?

[Paul Thoppil]

It's a very complex situation. That's why it takes time to unpack what the considerations are—

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

I'm sorry, Mr. Thoppil, but—

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe, let the assistant deputy minister finish, then I'll come back to you. I'll give you a few seconds extra.

Mr. Thoppil, did you want to add something?

[Paul Thoppil]

Thank you, Mr. Chair, for the opportunity to continue with my response.

There are various regimes in other countries. There are different pathways in terms of how to establish a mechanism, as Deputy Minister MacLennan said, to be able have a full tool kit within the Canadian government to respond to the current crisis in Afghanistan as well as other crises that may unfold globally in the years ahead.

That's what we are currently looking at.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Thoppil, I see that you want my time to run out.

My question is simple. Have you provided an opinion on amending the Criminal Code, yes or no?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Thank you very much, Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe. Your time is up.

Now we'll go to Madam Kwan for two and a half minutes. Please go ahead.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Thank you.

I'm interested in that question, too.

Mr. Thoppil, is it yes or no?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Mr. Thoppil, do you have the question or do you want Madam Kwan to repeat the question?

[Paul Thoppil]

I need to repeat the answer, unfortunately, which is there is still work being done by the civil service among many departments in order to formulate the best advice to the government.