Foreign Affairs Committee on May 2nd, 2017

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

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Ambassador-Designate, for being here with us, and for your interesting words.

I agree entirely with the fact that this is a particularly crucial moment, one that contains opportunities, but also enormous challenges. Currently, our relationship with countries like Germany, or with the European Union, are more important than ever.

I'd like to go back to what my colleague Mr. Kent said. A lot of people were deeply concerned or asked themselves some serious questions, including several experts, veterans of diplomacy and myself—even though I am not a veteran of diplomacy—in the wake of this unprecedented double assignment, during such a crucial period. I think we all heard about the surprise of the European Union representatives. I was in Germany two weeks ago, where I also heard comments, which were never directed against you as an individual, but questioned this dual assignment.

That said, I was wondering if you had already been accredited as ambassador to Germany.

[Stéphane Dion]

Yes, indeed.

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

Very well.

I would like to better understand your role as special envoy. My question may seem stupid, but I would like a clarification.

Are you a special advisor for Europe or for the European Union?

[Stéphane Dion]

I am the Prime Minister's special envoy to the European Union and Europe.

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

Europe as well?

[Stéphane Dion]

Yes.

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

So you are the Prime Minister's special envoy to the European Union, the Prime Minister's special envoy to Europe, and Canada's ambassador to Germany?

[Stéphane Dion]

That is correct.

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

In light of my experience in foreign affairs, all we can do is wish you good luck, because that seems to be a lot of hats for one person to wear, especially, as we were saying, during a very critical period.

I would like to understand the situation correctly. The current ambassador, Daniel J. Costello, will remain in Brussels. What will be your working relationship with Ambassador Costello? Will he be keeping all of his current duties?

[Stéphane Dion]

Yes. He does an excellent job, and so this will make mine easier. The excellence of our current diplomatic team on site, including in Germany, where there is a very strong mission at this time, will be of great assistance to me. The number two person in Germany—since the ambassador , Ms. Marie Gervais-Vidricaire, will be leaving her post—Ms. Jennifer May, is really very good. You know her. This will help us enormously. Mr. Costello is very effective.

What the Prime Minister is asking me to do—and I have discussed this with those two people, Ms. May and Mr. Costello—is to see how I can add to the dynamic so as to build a European approach. Our problem at this time is that we are very involved in our relationships with each country and with the European Union as the authority in Brussels, but it remains difficult to develop a European approach. Even the Europeans have trouble developing one, as you know.

This is not something we have focused on much up till now, because we had very few tools to do it, among other reasons. Now we will have the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, or CETA. We are now officially strategic partners, and that is very important. Europeans have had a tendency to forget us a bit in the past, because they have a lot of problems to solve amongst themselves, and because they had a vital relationship with our neighbour to the south. Now we are officially a strategic partner, and I will have the responsibility of adding to this by devising a European approach.

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

Fine.

I'd like to go back very briefly to the relationship you will have with Ambassador Costello, with regard to the division of powers. I am really intrigued by that question.

However, first I would like to ask how you intend to divide your time between Berlin and Brussels respectively. How often will you travel? How do you intend to organize your work, practically speaking?

[Stéphane Dion]

I will adjust. I have not taken on my duties as of yet. I think it is entirely doable. I have a great capacity for work, and I suppose that is in part why the Prime Minister chose me.

I will fulfil all of my responsibilities as ambassador to Germany, supported by the strong mission we have there. I will also be present in Brussels and elsewhere in Europe when ambassadors request my presence in various countries. On various important occasions, in each of these countries, I will attempt to find the European dimension that the country represents.

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

Let me remind you that this is not directed at you personally, but to my knowledge the work of ambassador to Germany is a full-time job. It is not a 35-hour a week job, it is a 50 or 60-hour a week position.

I think it might be interesting for the committee to have you here again so that we may understand how all of this can be organized. It could even be done via video conference. We will try not to make you travel too much, because I get the impression that there will be a lot of travel in your future.

I'd like to go back to the relationship between you and the European Union ambassadors, and those of other European countries.

[Stéphane Dion]

Yes.

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

Will there be some sort of relationship of authority?

[Stéphane Dion]

We will have complementary relationship aimed at strengthening the European dimension of our work. When you are in a country like Germany, as you just said, you are kept very busy by the activities in the country in question.

Increasingly, there are European stakes that are of great concern to Canada and Canadians. We must not lose sight of those European stakes. My responsibility will be to see to it that we never lose sight of them, so that we can move our interests and values forward in Europe.

In doing that, I believe that the complementary nature of the responsibilities the Prime Minister has entrusted to me will help me a great deal. While working to strengthen the coherence of Canadian efforts in Europe, I will also serve our interests in Germany. Thus, when I have the pleasure of being invited by your committee, I think you will see that that innovation by the Prime Minister was a necessary one.

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

I would also like to speak about the G7 and your perspective on the next meeting.

What are, in your opinion, the important issues that will be discussed at the next G7 meeting?

[Stéphane Dion]

Since I am no longer the minister, I would prefer that the minister answer your question herself.

I think we can guess at what the issues will be, but I think that that information should be provided to you by the minister.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Nault]

Thank you, Ms. Laverdière.

We'll go to Mr. Levitt, please.

[Michael Levitt, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

Thank you.

Ambassador Dion, thank you for appearing here today. Congratulations on your appointments. It's been a pleasure to work with you over the years, over about 10 years. I have no doubt that you're going to do Canada proud in your activities in Germany and in Europe more broadly.

If I can ask you a little bit about multilateralism, keeping in mind the growing protectionist sentiment in Europe and the upcoming Brexit negotiations, what do you see as Canada's role in supporting multilateral institutions as Europe continues to go through this more protectionist dynamic?

[Stéphane Dion]

I think it's a key role. In Canada—and it's beyond political parties—we know that we are a trading nation, that we need trade. We have also the duty to show that, if it's well negotiated, a free trade agreement is not a race to the bottom on social justice, environmental protection, workers' rights, and food safety. It's way to spread the best practices.

Let's talk a minute about the environment, if you'll allow me. It's clear that we have self-destructive developments too often, as human beings, in our relationship with the planet. In order to shift it toward sustainable development that will protect the ability of the next generations to have development, we need to spread the best practices and to speed up innovation. If we have protectionism, that will not be possible. Canada being open to Europe, and Europe to Canada, is the best way, if it's well negotiated—and I think CETA has been well negotiated by both Canada and Europe. It's the best way to address the environmental challenges, which don't know any borders. Canada must show that's the case when we negotiate with Europe, or with the United States, or with Asia.

[Michael Levitt, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

Thank you.

I want to move to a topic that I know is very important to you. It's certainly one that's been a focus for my work in Parliament. It's the topic of international human rights. Certainly Germany, where you'll be serving as ambassador, is a leading country in that regard. Of course, you'll also be working with other European countries who will have great concerns over some of the international human rights abuses we're seeing around the world, where Canada can play a strong voice, and is playing a strong voice, in terms of messaging the importance of speaking out against the situations as they exist.

I'm looking at the continuing human rights abuses that we're seeing developing in Russia, as an example. We've seen a flare-up recently in Chechnya. Even beyond just the European borders, as we get into other parts of the world, how do you see your being able to deliver and work with these new European partners on upholding international human rights across the globe?

[Stéphane Dion]

It will be at the core of what we need to do with the Europeans. You mentioned the challenges they are facing within Europe. I just quoted EC president Tusk—I prefer to use his words instead of putting words in his mouth—who said that xenophobia is on the rise in Europe. There's protectionism and populism. There's this view of society that the people are facing an elite who's controlling the institutions, so then you need control of the institutions by choosing a leader who will be the people. This kind of illiberal democratic model is strong in some countries in Europe already. It's something that is a concern for Canadians and for Canada.

We need to work with Europe to be sure that strong liberal democratic values, the ones that Mr. Tusk mentioned, will succeed in Europe and around the world. When we speak about Europe, and when we speak about the EU especially, it is the first donor of international aid around the world. Too often we work in parallel with them instead of working with them for human rights, for development, for environmental policies. We have an opportunity, now that we are an official strategic partner of Europe, to be sure that each time humankind needs a strong relationship between Canada and the EU, it will happen.

[Michael Levitt, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

We've talked about the opportunities. There are many opportunities for you to be able to make a real difference on the ground in Europe. What do you think are the main challenges you will be facing? What are the real uphill battles that you will dig in on, and where do you see those coming?

[Stéphane Dion]

You will need to invite me again, as Madame Laverdière said. I am eager to start. The Prime Minister said the beginning of May, and we're at the beginning of May, so it will happen pretty soon. I have had a lot of exchanges with European officials about what we can do together. It's something that I'm eager to do.

What will be the main challenges? We'll see. For now, I see the main opportunities. If I may, perhaps I have time to sum up three priorities.