Evidence of meeting #27 for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was questions.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Thank you, Madam McDonough.
We have four minutes. We'll try to indulge the committee and those here in those four minutes. Then we'll get to the votes.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
Peter MacKay Conservative Central Nova, NS
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I appreciate the comments from all my colleagues.
To answer some of your questions, Madam McDonough, I will endeavour to get information to you on all of those subject matters.
The first question you put with respect to the young professionals international program I do want to clarify. As you mentioned, this program was cut previously, but was set to sunset in 2008. So a decision was made previously, upon coming to the department, that this program didn't merit further funding by the previous government. Having said that, we accelerated the sunset, but we have focused instead on the international youth internship program, which is a comparable program. It targets the same age group. It benefits a far larger number of Canadians, more than 20,000 in number, and we will continue to honour the recipients of those programs who were awarded those positions prior to this decision.
With respect to a shift away from some of the core responsibilities and some of, to use your words, “the competent calibre of diplomacy and personnel” that we have, that will continue. We continue to put emphasis on making meaningful contributions, whether it be through international fora, whether it be the United Nations, the Human Rights Commission, whether it be programs that are dedicated to further Canada's interests in areas of nuclear non-proliferation. We are signatories, as you know, to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. We continue, as you know--you participated at the department--efforts to bring people together at the department to forward Canada's position.
5:30 p.m.
NDP
Alexa McDonough NDP Halifax, NS
Why did you cut the budgetary provisions for those kinds of efforts?
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
Peter MacKay Conservative Central Nova, NS
Well, we continue to fund programs that we feel are efficient and are achieving the results that we continue to embrace, that are Canadian values, values that express equality, that express respect for human rights, respect for the rule of law.
Another area that we haven't had time to deal with is Canada's participation in election observation, which is a huge contribution that Canada makes through Elections Canada.
You mentioned peacemaking. This is the principal obligation that we have, to bring about the type of development and the types of results that you and I and every member of this committee want to see in Afghanistan. We want to be able to do much more on the ground to protect people, to further women's rights, to further democracy building, to further the important infrastructure that has to be built inside Afghanistan. It cannot happen without the security perimeter around each and every one of those projects. So sustainable development remains front and centre in the Department of Foreign Affairs, and CIDA more directly.
That whole-of-government approach, I would suggest, is one that should make Canadians very proud and will continue. That is a legacy this country has laid out, and one that this government will continue.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Thank you, Mr. Minister. We thank you for coming.
We thank each committee member.
We will have the votes on the budget at the next opportunity.
The meeting is adjourned.