Foreign Affairs Committee on April 2nd, 2015

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

I suppose they'd be more upset if you overspent than underspent. I'm just guessing, but....

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

If it were for no good reason, yes.

On page 26 of the RPP, there's reference to the international security and democratic development program, which I'm sure you know. That program's funding will decline by about 40% between 2015-16 and 2017-18. In other words, it will go from about $377 million down to $229 million.

Now, that program, amongst other things, for the benefit of everyone, “supports democracy through projects that work with partners to promote participation in political processes, enhance respect for human rights, strengthen the rule of law, and support the emergence of effective and accountable democratic institutions”.

My question, very simply, is why the decrease?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

Again, the funding approved by the Treasury Board in December 2014, which provided funding of $127 million in 2014 and $130 million in 2015, was for task force operations to conduct international assistance and to prevent and respond to crises or provide stabilization. We recognize the importance of security, democracy, and the rule of law. Without security, obviously stability and peace cannot take root.

Again, all of the money for the stabilization and reconstruction fund is an increase of $130 million, and we of course are supportive of that.

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

With what's going on in Iraq and Ukraine, one would think that a program such as this would be the kind of program that could help to build democracy in those countries. I'm surprised to see that the moneys are actually decreasing.

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

Again, our assistance for both Ukraine and Iraq, as you have seen over the last couple of years, has continued to increase. The situation with respect to Syria is that we are the sixth-largest contributor. With respect to Iraq, we're the fifth-largest contributor. We believe our military efforts have to go hand in hand with our other assistance.

I think an analysis, which I'm sure the committee will do, of what we are doing and the loans we have made...are all steps in the right direction.

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

Have moneys specifically been targeted under international security and democratic development for building democratic institutions or assisting with it in Iraq?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

They're certainly a part of that. The stabilization and reconstruction task force and the global peace and security fund do exactly that. They work with individuals and organizations to help build the infrastructure that will be necessary for the long term. I'm sure this has the support of everyone. We have been very clear, as you know, Monsieur Garneau, that it can't be just a military operation. These have to go hand in hand. That's exactly what we have been doing on that, and that will continue.

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

Well, again, I understand the purpose of it, but you haven't answered my question. Has money been earmarked for Iraq specifically to help with institution-building?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

It is under the global peace and security fund and stabilization and reconstruction task force. There are funds directly involved with helping to rebuild those institutions in Iraq, as part of the mission we have.

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

Would the same be true in Ukraine?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

Yes, it would be.

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

Earlier this year, it was mentioned that money allocated to maintain and beef up security in our embassies had not been spent for three years. And yet we all know that, with a real property inventory of approximately $3.5 billion and embassies located in dangerous countries, the department's top priority should be security.

We learned that the money hadn't been spent because the previous minister, your predecessor, hadn't signed the documentation that needed to be sent to Treasury Board. According to the report on plans and priorities, that may change and some funding has now been allocated for that purpose.

Has the funding allocated to embassy maintenance and security in the report on plans and priorities already been approved, or do you still have to sign off on it?

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Minister, to give you some context on the time, you have only about 30 seconds left.

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

All right.

Every cent that has been allocated for the safety and security of our missions is available. Some of this is part of infrastructure that has been built and that has already taken place. I already made reference to the fact that the reconstruction or the replacement of the chancery in Moscow hasn't been done.

That being said, we watch these things very carefully. We're absolutely committed to the safety and security of our missions abroad. Every single cent allocated by the government is available for that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Thank you, Minister Nicholson, and thank you, Mr. Garneau.

We'll start our second round, which will be five minutes.

Mr. Hawn, you will lead us off.

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, lady and gentlemen, for joining us.

To Minister Paradis, I think all Canadians are impressed by the results that have been achieved in the Third World in terms of our efforts to save the lives of women and children in the developing world. I was fortunate enough to spend a bit of time in Tanzania last year and to see directly some of the results of that.

With the renewed funding, can you give us a bit of an update going forward? Are we making any changes to where we're putting emphasis? Are there any changes to the funding? Obviously it's another large commitment over the five years from 2015 to 2020. Can you give us a bit of an update on that, please?

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

First of all, I think I should start with the MNCH. As you know, in 2010 we committed a total of $2.85 billion over five years, from 2010 up to 2015. I'm glad to report that all of this money has been disbursed. This is how Canada is recognized: it pays what it pledges.

It has been a good tranche, and now we are going with a second tranche, as you know. The Prime Minister announced $3.5 billion over the next five years, from 2015 to 2020, so of course there are more resources. The idea is to make sure that we can reach beyond the low-hanging fruit.

We need to do more. The summit that we held in Toronto I think sent a good signal to the entire world to ask what we can do better in terms of immunization, in terms of nutrition, in terms of a civil registration and vital statistics system, and with the newborns. There is still work to do, but we are very confident that we will achieve more. This is why we've also announced this pledge of $500 million to Gavi. Of course, we are also very active in the Global Fund. We increased our participation there by 20% from when we announced that in 2014.

The idea is that we are happy to be active where we can make a difference. Canada is well recognized in regard to the MNCH initiative, and we intend to do this.

You alluded to Tanzania. Tanzania is a good partner on this, and Prime Minister Harper commissioned a report, with Jakaya Kikwete, on accountability and transparency. This is why we were very proud to launch, in New York City during the UN General Assembly, the Global Fund finance facility, in which, once again, money is earmarked for MNCH and the building of the CRVS, the civil registration and vital statistics system.

Beyond this, of course, we have 25 countries of focus that were designated last June, plus 15 partner countries, more or less. We've talked about Iraq, and Iraq is now a partner country.

In terms of bilaterals, now what we want to do is keep this good work that has been done in the last five years and stay focused, not dispersed, in terms of long-term development. Other interesting countries like Jordan, Burma, and Mongolia are now in, because of course we see opportunities for us to help in building sustainable economic growth and in making a difference to eradicate poverty.

I'm giving you a quick snapshot, but I think things are going for the best. It is also all in line with what we see. I sense that there is a better coordination among the donors.

We're talking also about blending finance, because as I alluded to in my previous remarks, ODA is not enough. We have to go to ODA-plus. So how can we do that? How can we engage private sector foundations and the diasporas? The diasporas have good knowledge that can be shared. They already do things, and they make huge remittances, but there are fees on this. How can we manage this all together in order to be more effective?

These are very interesting files on which we are working now to make sure that we are more effective in this 21st century with the means that we have in front of us.

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

I have a very short question, Minister.

I would assume that the response from the 25 countries of focus has been pretty strong and pretty grateful. Are they coming back with anything about how it's great but they'd like us to do a little more over here or over there? Are they involved in the flexibility of changing the program if it needs to be changed?

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Of course. I think it's important to mention here that when we announce the countries of focus, you can see a link on our website to their national development plans. The idea is that we want them to keep the ownership of their development. We are there to support them, but we also expect that our standards would be followed.

This is why I announced publicly that these countries of focus will have to sign a mutual accountability framework agreement with us to make sure that we can manage the expectations and that we can be accountable. After that, when everybody knows what the intentions are on both sides, it is easier to manage. When there are unexpected things, at least you have a framework with which to work.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Thank you, Mr. Hawn.

We'll now move to Madame Laverdière for five minutes.

[Hélène Laverdière, NDP, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Minister, since I have a lot of questions for you and a limited amount of time, I'm going to get right to the point, if you don't mind.

Minister, why is it that, as Canada commits to extending its mission in Iraq and Syria—at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars—unlike its European Union, U.S. and U.K. partners, Canada didn't make an announcement at the donors' conference for Syria held in Kuwait this week?

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

First of all, Ms. Laverdière, I'd like to remind you that, on January 7, I announced $50 million in aid for Syria for 2015. Second, I'd like you to know that the money was paid out. We see this as an important issue. It's well and good to hold conferences and pledge money, but partner countries have to honour those pledges, as well.

That's what we've done. Not only have we spent $50 million to date, but we have also sent Ms. Jacovella, the assistant deputy minister, there to reiterate Canada's support. And we're keeping a very close eye on the situation. Keep in mind that Canada is the six biggest donor when it comes to Syrian aid.

[Hélène Laverdière, NDP, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

We have been so far, but we still have to commit funding for the future. As we all know, the needs are still there and they keep growing. Basically, Canada needs to pledge aid now, together with its partners.

And while we're on the topic of delays, the deadline for proposal submissions for the international youth internship program was nine months ago, and still, the results haven't been announced. How do you explain that?

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

As I announced back then, the department underwent a realignment further to the merger, and that gave us the perfect opportunity to review some of the selection criteria. That being said, I want to tell you that we feel very strongly about the international youth internship program, which generates considerable benefits and spinoff.

The program seeks to engage Canadians, promote awareness among youth and give them life experience. It also teaches them about what goes on in emerging economies and countries in need. A call for proposals was held, and the results will be announced shortly. The program is very important to me.