Evidence of meeting #100 for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was rohingya.
A video is available from Parliament.
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Liberal
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Conservative
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Conservative
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Liberal
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Conservative
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Conservative
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Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
—when there was over $8 million in 2014-15.
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Liberal
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Mr. Chair, I'm sorry, I think the mike has to be cut off, please.
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Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bob Nault
Yes, that's a good idea, and I have control of the mike.
We should shut this mike off, please.
There you go.
Minister, finish your comments, and then, Mr. Genuis, you get to ask another question or make a comment. Let's do this like adults. That would be useful.
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Conservative
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Conservative
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Liberal
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Thank you.
I'm happy to take your questions, but I'd ask you to behave as the other members of the committee do and listen to the answer.
I am glad to take this opportunity here to make an absolute commitment to all Canadians and to the people of Ukraine that Canada will be energetically engaged in election monitoring in Ukraine next year. The elections in Ukraine next year are an absolutely critical moment, and we will be there.
7:15 p.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I think members know that the way this committee typically proceeds is the member posing the questions directs the time of the questions. It seems the chair wants to proceed in a different fashion today. Let me move on to some other questions.
First of all, with regard to that other question, the figures I quoted were clear, and the public record is clear in terms of what was spent in the 2014-15 period and what is being spent now.
Minister, during a recent meeting of the committee, we were told by officials the government does not fund organizations that are engaged in illegal activity abroad, that is, activity that is illegal in the country where it is taking place. Is it correct that the government does not fund activity that is illegal in the country where it's taking place?
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Liberal
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Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Minister, the budget gave $5 million to Marie Stopes International. Is the government confident that Marie Stopes International does not break the law in countries where it operates?
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Liberal
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Let me be very clear on the direction of that question.
We have a feminist Prime Minister. I'm a feminist, and I'm proud that we have a feminist foreign policy. I believe it is an absolute right of women to control their bodies. I believe that sexual and reproductive health for women is their right. I believe that is a right for Canadian women, and I am proud to stand up for women around the world to have that right.
We, sadly, are living in a time when the sexual and reproductive rights of women in some countries in the world are being limited. That is wrong. As you know, Canada has stepped up its support for sexual and reproductive health for women in part to fill that void. That is something our government is extremely proud to do. If the Conservative Party believes that a woman should not have control of her own body, whether she is Canadian or a citizen of any other country, I would be quite delighted to take that position to the voters of Canada.
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Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Minister, I will just clarify the question.
I think Canadians just have a right to know one way or the other about the policy of the government with respect to funding activity that's illegal in other countries. You said in the previous question that, to your knowledge, Canada is not funding activity that's illegal in the country in which it takes place. Of course I note your government advocates for changes to the law, and that's normal. Obviously, Canada would advocate for changes to the law in cases where it doesn't agree, but are you confident that Marie Stopes International, receiving $5 million of Canadian money, does not break the law in countries where they operate? Are you confident of that?
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Liberal
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
I again want to address the underlying point which is being insinuated and pushed there, and I would like Canadians to be very aware of the tendency of that question. Again, if the Conservative Party of Canada wants to stand up for Canadian voters and say that it is a party which is opposed to a woman's right to choose in Canada, that it is a party which is opposed to support for sexual and reproductive health of women around the world, I would be delighted to take that issue to the ballot box.
I also want to say in this year, the year of #MeToo, the year when the people of Ireland—the women of Ireland, but the people of Ireland—have spoken up in a free and open ballot for a woman's right to choose, I am extremely proud to be very, very clear about our government's support for choice. Again, I would be delighted to have the Conservative Party, rather than make insinuations if you are opposed to abortion, if you want to limit a woman's right to choose in Canada or around the world, please come out and say it clearly.