Evidence of meeting #2 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 canada's.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bob Nault
Thank you.
I want to jump in and ask one question before I go to you, Garnett. I guess the chair is allowed to do that.
I am curious about when we might see your newly developed trade and export strategy. Do you have any sense of when that might be available, so that we could get into some detail? I would be very interested in that.
I'm assuming there was one in the past, so you're obviously developing a new one. It would be useful for the committee to have some sense of the timeline.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
All I can say at this point, Mr. Chair, is that my colleagues on the trade side are working very hard at implementing that mandate letter commitment in terms of the trade and export strategy. I can't give you a specific deadline right now, but I know they're working very hard on it. It's one of the top priorities for the Minister of International Trade.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Thank you very much.
Thank you to the officials for coming in and presenting to us today.
I'd like to ask a question about your communications protocols within the department, just for my clarification.
If a member of the diplomatic service or a departmental employee is asked to speak to the media or given an opportunity to give a public address about an issue, are they required to seek approval first, and if so, from whom?
Assistant Deputy Minister, International Security and Political Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
That very much is a question that has to be answered with “it depends.” It depends on who you are, what you're working on, and the circumstances.
For example, all of our ambassadors are empowered to speak. In fact, all of our officials are empowered to speak. One has to take into consideration whether someone is in a position to say something meaningful about that issue, because in many cases policy has yet to be decided, so speaking out wouldn't be helpful to anybody in that regard.
Normally there's no approval process, as far as I'm aware, but there is certainly a consultative process. Anybody who's considering speaking to the media wants to be sure they're apprised of all the information that would be useful in that regard. That requires consultation with a number of parts of the department, including our communications branch, which has very often the best overview of an issue.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Sorry to jump in here. I'm just thinking about it from a time perspective.
There is a consultative process that involves going to the communications department. You're telling me that an ambassador or a departmental official or anyone can still tell a communications department, “Sorry, I wish to speak publicly on this issue”, and there are no negative consequences for their career. Is that what you're telling me?
Assistant Deputy Minister, International Security and Political Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
I can speak for those ambassadors with whom I work most closely, including our ambassador to NATO, who, without any consultation or approvals, was speaking to the media a number of times last week on some NATO decisions.
Again, it depends on the nature of the person and their confidence in their files, but to my knowledge, there's no absolute requirement for approval.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Can I ask specifically about the ambassador for religious freedom? Is he able to speak publicly without seeking approval?
Assistant Deputy Minister, International Security and Political Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Yes, he is able to speak publicly. He has been encouraged to continue to do his excellent work, because we recognize the important work he's doing. We're working to ensure there's continuity in that regard.
We are also looking at the question of human rights within a broader rubric. We consider human rights to be indivisible and inseparable.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
I certainly think that's a discussion we're going to continue to have.
I want to move in a different direction, if that's okay, just in the interest of time.
Do you have a working definition of what constitutes genocide? At a technical level, what does genocide mean in your perspective? If so, would someone be open to telling me what that definition is?
Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Global Issues and Development , Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
I think we have to get back to you on that, and consult our legal colleagues as well, because it's not something we can answer.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Specifically—and you may want to defer on this as well—I wonder if, in your opinion, events in Syria and Iraq at present constitute genocide.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Europe, Middle East and Maghreb, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
It's not a term that I have seen used at this time.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Then it's not a term that the government has used to describe those events. Is that correct?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Europe, Middle East and Maghreb, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
The government?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Europe, Middle East and Maghreb, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
I was thinking—
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Sorry, that's a separate question.
Certainly many people have used the word “genocide” to describe it—Hillary Clinton, for example, and various human rights groups.
There are two parts. First, has the government used that term? Second, at a technical level, do you have thoughts on whether that term applies?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Europe, Middle East and Maghreb, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
I think Ms. Fountain Smith is very correct; I think we should come back to you with regard to that question.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Thank you.
In the remaining time, can you tell me about Canada's formal position on Tibet and if the government has any intention of endorsing the Middle Way proposal coming from the Tibetan government?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Again, we don't have that expertise at this table. We'd be happy to go back and consult our Asia-Pacific branch and get back to you on that.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Okay. Thank you.
I'll come back to the Middle East, then.
We've had some discussion recently in the media about UNRWA. I'm wondering if you think there are other effective ways that are above reproach, besides UNRWA, of delivering aid to the Palestinian people.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Europe, Middle East and Maghreb, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
You don't ask easy questions.
The West Bank and Gaza, and the Middle East generally, are very difficult places to work, as we've said before. There are several channels by which we provide and have provided assistance to Palestinians, including UNRWA, and in the past the World Food Programme and other channels.
We constantly review the organizations that are available to deliver both humanitarian and development assistance. We work very closely with other partners and are able to learn from their experience and their assessments and then make the best choice possible.