Canada-China Relations Committee on Feb. 4th, 2020

[Heather Jeffrey]

The rapid deployment teams are under my management at Global Affairs Canada. They are trained and dispatched through the emergency watch and response centre.

[The Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Thank you—

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

If we could get the plan from the rapid deployment team tabled, that would be great.

Thank you very much, Ms. Jeffrey.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I'm sorry. I was getting around to the five-minute round, and I was thinking six minutes, so forgive me for that.

I do want to make sure of this. Perhaps the witnesses have appeared at committees before, but I want them to understand that when members have only a short time, sometimes they will be anxious to get in as many questions as they can. I've certainly experienced that myself on committee in the past.

The next five minutes are going to be shared between Ms. Zann and Ms. Yip, I believe.

Ms. Zann, please.

[Lenore Zann, Liberal, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

I think Ms. Yip is going to go first.

[Jean Yip, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Thank you for coming. I really have to commend the hard work that you and your team have done in response to the downing of flight 752 and the recent coronavirus.

Have Chinese authorities presented any evidence regarding the national security charges against Mr. Kovrig and Mr. Spavor?

[Heather Jeffrey]

I'm not going to comment on the details of the cases. Those cases are still under investigation by the Chinese authorities, according to what we've been told.

[Jean Yip, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Well, I'm going to give this another try. When are Mr. Kovrig and Mr. Spavor expected to be tried, and when they are tried, will they have access to effective legal representation?

[Heather Jeffrey]

The timeline for trial and sentencing is very flexible, and there are many opportunities generically in the Chinese system for extensions and adjustments. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to speculate on timing in any specific case.

[Jean Yip, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Are they receiving any legal advice now from the consular officials?

[Heather Jeffrey]

Again, I'm sorry. These are all details of their personal situations.

As I mentioned, I'm sure that the committee can appreciate that these are very difficult situations for Mr. Kovrig and Mr. Spavor and their families. They have asked for privacy. Under the Privacy Act, we're obliged, as consular officials, to respect that.

With respect, unfortunately I can't answer your question. I'm sorry.

[Jean Yip, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Thank you.

With respect to Robert Schellenberg, have Canadian consular officials had access to him since the ruling that he be put on death penalty?

[Heather Jeffrey]

Yes, we have been provided consular access to Mr. Schellenberg and we've visited.

[Jean Yip, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

How many Canadians are on death row?

[Heather Jeffrey]

Due to the Privacy Act, I'm not going to comment on the cases of specific Canadians and their sentencing.

[Jean Yip, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Okay.

Would you like your time now, Lenore?

[Lenore Zann, Liberal, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Mr. Bergeron, do you have a point of order?

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Yes, Mr. Chair.

I understand our officials' reservations regarding details on ongoing consular cases.

However, this was a general question simply to find out how many Canadians are facing a death sentence. We just need a figure and not details. So it seems to me that the information can be shared with us.

[The Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Thank you very much, Mr. Bergeron.

I understand that the witnesses want to make sure to respect the law. It is also clear that the committee members would like to get as much information and details as possible.

[Heather Jeffrey]

Thank you, Chair.

While I can't speak to the details of the cases, there are two Canadians—Mr. Schellenberg and Mr. Fan Wei—whose charges on the death penalty are public and available.

[The Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Thank you very much.

Ms. Zann.

[Lenore Zann, Liberal, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you for being here. Again, thank you so much for your hard work on behalf of Canadians. As has been said, we know you're under a lot of stress. The situation keeps changing, I'm sure, and you have to become pretty nimble to deal with it.

I would like to know a little more about the situation on the ground with regard to the coronavirus and the Canadians who are still in China. I believe they are being quarantined right now, everybody who is there. Is that correct? Also, what are you telling the Canadians there to do to protect themselves for their health?

[Heather Jeffrey]

Thank you.

The Government of China has taken different measures in different areas to respond to the spread of the coronavirus in an effort to impede its continued extension. Hubei province is the focus of attention because of the particular restrictions around travel in and out of that province. For example, it required special permissions for our consular team to enter Hubei province. It is closed to traffic. Canadians in Hubei province have been telling us in their conversations with us that they have been instructed to stay in their homes and to avoid gatherings.

Many of these types of measures to impede the spread of the virus—in terms of avoiding large groups and these types of things—actually would align with the advice that we take, which is given by the Public Health Agency of Canada as the expert body in Canada that advises us. We have been consulting with them. They've provided advice to us in terms of how to protect not only our staff but also Canadians on the ground. The measures are the same that they have spoken about here in Canada: frequent washing of hands, avoiding contact, self-isolation and these kinds of things. We've also provided advice on what to do to avoid exposing others if you have symptoms.

They've also advised us on the types of protective kit that we should be using. For our flights, we have very detailed medical advice on how those flights will take place. We will have a DND medical team on board the aircraft to provide medical assistance to Canadians who might need it inflight.

In terms of the evacuation, I would just underline that the Government of China will be conducting medical checks. Given the nature and the reasoning behind the quarantine, they have informed us that no one who is symptomatic will be allowed to depart Hubei province. They will be conducting medical checks on entry to the airport, inside the airport. We will also be conducting, through DND medical personnel, checks before Canadians board the aircraft, to ensure everyone's safety and security.

[The Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Thank you, Ms. Zann.

As I go to Mr. Albas, I hope you won't mind my suggesting that members of Parliament probably should wash their hands more than most, because I can't think of any other group that every weekend goes off to every part of the country, shakes lots of hands and comes back to Ottawa and shakes lots of hands.

Mr. Albas.