Foreign Affairs Committee on May 5th, 2016

[Jati Sidhu, Liberal, Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC]

You mentioned in your statement that we have some changes in the estimates, and they are not in these estimates. I was wondering when we can expect those changes.

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

We are starting with the reference level. We already know from the budget that we have an additional budget of $256 million for two years, and there are some funds available through the supplementary estimates budget. We will see during the year when we have to ask for more funds in the supplementary estimates.

Arun, maybe you can explain.

[Arun Thangaraj]

Any new initiative that comes along during the fiscal year will be reflected in supplementary estimates. There are three sets of supplementary estimates: (A), (B), and (C). (A) is usually in late spring, (B) is in early winter, and (C) is toward the end of the fiscal year. At one of those intervals, any of the new funding for international development that was talked about in the budget will be reflected in one of the supplementary estimates.

[Jati Sidhu, Liberal, Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC]

Okay. Thank you so much.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Nault]

There are two minutes left for Mr. Miller.

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Dion, the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment defines torture as follows:

[...] any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person [...]

Obviously, the mistreatment of prisoners and inmates is serious, inhumane and always illegal.

Mr. Minister, this week you signed the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. I would like to know how signing this protocol will help us achieve the objective of eliminating torture.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent, QC]

Thank you very much for your question, my dear colleague.

You are ahead of things though because I have not yet signed the protocol. I would certainly like to sign it, but it requires a great deal of preparation. We will all have to do that together. This committee will certainly have work to do in this regard.

I announced that Canada would like to join the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which would mean that the protocol would no longer be optional for Canada. As you said, it is an important agreement to ensure that the ban on torture is applied and implemented and that governments are held responsible for their actions. The membership process will require numerous consultations with other departments, with provincial, territorial, and aboriginal governments, and with Parliament.

It must be done. I think Canada has lagged behind for too long; it is really time to do it. We must first ensure that, in Canada, we have all the necessary protections against the horrors of torture.

Moreover, it is difficult to put pressure on other countries if we don't set an example ourselves and if we don't show that we take all the available tools seriously. If we want problematic countries to join the protocol, it is hard to encourage them if we are not members ourselves. In that sense, it would be a key asset to our steadfast policy of combatting torture around the world.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Nault]

Thank you, Minister.

Mr. Aubin.

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would like to thank all the witnesses for being here today. I would especially like to thank the two ministers who no doubt have very busy schedules.

While my questions might be directed to one of you, it is sometimes difficult to draw a line between issues relating to foreign affairs or international development. So please feel free to complete your colleague's response.

You will no doubt remember that the former government withdrew from the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. Once again, that was a first, after the withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol. Looking at the budget, I don't see a contribution for this program. Does that mean that Canada is still not a signatory to this convention?

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent, QC]

I would simply say that I hear you. I said the same things when I was in opposition. Now that we are in government, we are in a position to act. We are looking at that and will no doubt reach a decision very soon—within a few weeks or months. It is a very important issue, as you say, because desertification is a major problem affecting large parts of the world. When it is not properly addressed, it seems that populations can no longer survive on their own. That increases the pressure on us.

I am very happy you raised this issue today, Mr. Aubin.

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Thank you.

I impatiently await further details on this because, without action, desertification increases. It knows no boundaries.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent, QC]

Yes, I fully understand and I appreciate your impatience.

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Thank you.

On another international issue, what role are we playing in the elimination of anti-personnel mines? I have not been able to figure out the data.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Thangaraj, where can we find that data? What is the extent of our participation in those efforts?

Until the data is located, I would simply say that I spoke about this at the international conference on the subject. I emphasized that Canada was supposed to play a much more active role than it has in recent years.

[Daniel Jean, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development]

By way of example, in Colombia and elsewhere right now, we are looking to see what we can do with our partners with respect to mine-clearing.

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Okay, thank you.

Perhaps you can forward those numbers to me. We do not need them this afternoon.

My next question is for Ms. Bibeau.

In the 2016-17 report on plans and priorities, Global Affairs Canada states that it will support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As you can guess, I would like to know how much Canada has budgeted for this. Will there be a specific budget for the implementation of these objectives? Or will they be achieved through existing programs and budgets?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Are you referring to the international development or global component?

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

I am referring to international development.

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

That is part of our review. It will be set out in our upcoming five-year plan, probably much more clearly. For the time being, as far as our priorities are concerned, it is related to our sustainable development objectives.

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

So it is in your existing budget envelopes. That means there will not be a separate envelope for sustainable development initiatives?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

I would not presume to say what will be in the five-year plan that will begin in 2017. Assuming that we continue thinking about this, will it be included in the plan? I am inclined to think it would be in the plan because every action we take on international development relates to one of the sustainable development objectives. It would be rather difficult to create a separate budget.

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Let's make it even more complicated.

There is international affairs, international development, and the environment. There is also funding earmarked to help developing countries look for solutions to climate change. Will there also be separate funding for that? Does the $2.5 billion or $2.6 billion cover this entire initiative?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

The $2.65 billion is specifically for our actions relating to projects we will undertake to help communities be more resilient in dealing with climate change or to reduce the greenhouse gas effect.

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Okay.

I will let you continue your work then. When we meet again, you can give us further details.

Thank you very much. That's all for me, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Nault]

Mr. Miller.