Foreign Affairs Committee on April 21st, 2016

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

We aren't there yet, but I wouldn't want us to go backwards. Honestly, I have to tell you that I haven't had any serious discussions about this or given it serious thought. We are currently focusing on reviewing policies and evaluating the situation and Canada's co-operative advantage to determine how we can do more and better.

Creating an ombudsman may come back on the table when we are thinking about outcome indicators, but I don't have an opinion on this at the moment.

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

I would also like to speak on behalf of an organization in my region, the Comité de solidarité Trois-Rivières. There are equivalent organizations in many regions of Quebec and across Canada. Since these people are carefully following your work, they know that a review of the programs has started. They would like to know if, in the context of calls for proposals, they could submit international development, education and public awareness projects. I know that it would be too much to ask you for a specific date, but perhaps you could at least give me an idea of when these organizations might be able to submit funding requests.

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

I can't give you an exact date, but I want to point out that Minister Paradis has already held significant consultations. So I don't reinvent the wheel, I'm going to use the same process in this exercise.

Discussions are ongoing with the organizations, like the one in Trois-Rivières. There is one in Sherbrooke, as well, and its representatives remind me of their objectives on a regular basis. Their representative has already participated in a few roundtables. So I'm in contact with these people constantly, and I do intend to follow up, perhaps with a few small changes, on this thought process that has already taken place, so that the exercise is not repeated needlessly.

Although I can't give an exact date, by goal is to do this as soon as possible.

I know how important these organizations are. I'll take this opportunity to mention that it's important for me to re-engage Canadians in international development. I think there are some shortcomings and a disengagement in this respect. That's why I want us to implement a strategy aimed at ensuring that Canadians are re-engaged in international development through our partnerships with organizations like this one, student internships and our communications in general.

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

Thank you.

I wouldn't want to end my intervention without asking you a question about the Francophonie.

The objective of the new secretary general of the Francophonie, Michaëlle Jean, is to help create a francophone economic space. It seems that this at least should be the priority of her first mandate.

Do you have any ideas about how Canada can help create or, if it's already emerging, help strengthen this francophone economic space?

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

I admit that when I started my job, there wasn't much under way for the Francophonie, Unfortunately, a large number of French-speaking countries are among the poorest in the world. That's why a large part of Canada's role within the Francophonie consists of development aid. That said, my goal is to develop a broader action plan that will address the Francophonie in a more proactive and more comprehensive way.

In terms of your question about economic growth, as I said, green and sustainable economic growth is my second priority. I think this aligns well with Ms. Jean's priority. The projects we are going to develop, particularly in French-speaking Africa, will focus on job creation, especially for youth and women.

As for the discussion about the francophone economic space, we hope to broaden the scope beyond developing countries.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Nault]

Thank you.

We'll go to Mr. Levitt, please.

[Michael Levitt, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

Before I ask my question, I want to take 30 seconds. We're six months into this mandate, and I want to recognize your efforts, and in particular also the efforts of your parliamentary secretary, Karina Gould, in hitting the ground running in this first six months with what is a very difficult file with many challenges. In terms of working towards your mandate, you've done a lot in this first period. I just want to recognize that.

As to the question, your mandate letter states that you should champion human rights, especially those of women and refugees.

It's a sad but true reality that when women and girls are deprived of their rights, all of society suffers. How will you be working with civil society and grassroots organizations in Canada and abroad to promote and protect women's and girls' rights?

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

Earlier I spoke about my priority. My primary focus is really women.

My main priority is definitely to protect and empower women and girls. I want this to be related to women and girls in the most efficient way possible.

I talked earlier about reproductive and sexual rights. This is an important project, which we want to enlarge and apply as much as we can.

Talking about rights and working with local NGOs, we haven't started our reflection on what the new mechanisms would be, but one I am thinking about is to increase the local initiative fund. I don't remember the exact name, but it is the fund that is managed locally.

I'm told it's the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives. It's the one managed by the embassies.

I believe we can do good things with CSOs, civil society organizations, in the field directly.

This is one example, and it hasn't been decided yet, but I look at it very seriously, because I believe we can do real stuff on the ground with small but very efficient projects.

I have been invited by the UN Secretary-General to work on the every woman every child committee, so I will have the opportunity to discuss with the international community how to find the best ways to champion this subject.

[Michael Levitt, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

Thank you very much.

I'm going to pass on my time to one of my other colleagues.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Nault]

Okay. There are three minutes remaining.

Raj, is it you, or is it Jati?

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

I can go quickly.

Thank you, Minister. You have a large portfolio and you're doing a great job.

You mentioned in your address, if I heard it correctly, that about $2.6 billion has gone towards the environment.

This is a twofold question, but the main question is this. We know that Canada has committed to providing assistance to countries that are vulnerable to the destabilizing effect of climate change. Can you describe some of the planning that is under way to deliver on this notion?

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

Yes. We're talking about $2.65 billion over a five-year period. Some projects are already going on, and we are recognizing that they have a direct impact and that they meet these objectives. For example, Canada's recent $300-million contribution to the Green Climate Fund would be recognized as being part of it. As well, there is $90 million to the Global Environment Facility, and $124 million for bilateral climate change projects in general.

Some projects are already going on, and for the balance, I am working in collaboration with the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Madam McKenna, to design and to define the new criteria for the projects that will fall under this objective. There will be grants and contributions, and there will be loans also. It goes with our second priority, which is to grow the economy. I call it, for now, sustainable and green economic growth.

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

The way I hear it, it is a good start, and half done. Is it going to continue?

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

Oh yes, and we will enlarge it significantly.

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

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Nault]

We have 30 seconds, so I think we'll just give up that time for the second round and go right to Ms. Dzerowicz, please. You have five minutes.

[Julie Dzerowicz, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Minister, you and your colleagues Minister Dion and Minister Sajjan announced a very ambitious plan in early February to address the ongoing crises in Iraq and Syria. Can you tell the committee about the humanitarian aspects of these efforts?

Last week, you announced matching funds for Syria. Could you tell us how you will use these funds in the region?

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

Regarding the overall commitment for the Middle East, the $1.1 billion, $840 million will be dedicated to humanitarian assistance, and $270 million to development projects.

I announced last week a $400,000 project that will be going on, and it includes the matching funds.

I'll just rewind a little. You remember that we had a matching fund. It started last September, and at the end of December, Canadians had given $12 million. We decided, because the NGOs asked me, to postpone the date to the end of February, and the recognized organizations got $32 million, more or less.

We matched this fund, and doubled it. We decided to dedicate this amount to three UNICEF projects. The biggest one is the Makani centres. I had the opportunity to visit a Makani centre in Jordan. I would call it an alternative school. It is a place where children and teenagers can go to catch up on their studies and training. Most of them were out of school for one, two, even three years, so they have to catch up to be able to go back to a real school. As I said earlier, it is so important to get these kids in school. It is one way to avoid early and forced marriage. We are trying to avoid having the kids working and we are trying to keep boys in school, so there is less chance to have them recruited by extremist groups. It is very important. These Makani centres also give psychosocial assistance to these kids who have suffered greatly.

I will give you a few examples.

The matching fund also includes school supplies and learning materials in Syria, and a national immunization campaign. This is the matching fund, and we are doing it through UNICEF. We decided to increase our contribution right away up to $100 million; we were ready to match up to $100 million, so we decided to do so right away. An additional $23 million is for projects in Syria: food assistance, access to essential primary care service, clean water and sanitation, and help for farmers to restore their farms. Another $33 million is for projects in Iraq, and $11 million for projects in Jordan and Lebanon.

This is the first step, and now we are discussing with the international organizations, because it is the first time they have had the opportunity to plan projects for more than one year. This is very innovative in terms of financing humanitarian assistance. They are working on designing three-year projects, so we are waiting for their response. We are also ready to respond to specific needs as they come.

Thank you.

[Julie Dzerowicz, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Excellent. Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Nault]

We'll go to Mr. Kent and then we'll go back to Mr. Saini.

[Peter Kent, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Minister, as the government considers again the possible renewal of funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA, I think it's really important to remember that UNRWA was originally created in 1949 as a temporary humanitarian relief agency to assist both displaced Jews as well as Arabs in Israel after the creation of Israel and the Palestinian territories.

We all know that in recent years, UNRWA has become somewhat anachronistic and, in fact, has been penetrated by some of the Hamas terrorist factions who have interfered in a variety of ways with the delivery of Canadian humanitarian relief, which is too dangerous for Canadians to deliver, we understand, and has been in some cases mishandled in its intended delivery to needy civilian populations.

There have been suggestions from a number of quarters in Canada and abroad that, in fact, the government should abandon any thoughts of renewing funding through UNRWA and instead deal with the United Nations Refugee Agency, because the UNHCR, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, is intended for a population that has been, since 1949, held captive as human flags, if you will, by the populations in Gaza and the West Bank and would be better both in making sure that the aid is delivered to the civilian populations in need, but also to begin finally to rebuild those societies to prosper, to negotiate coexistence with Israel, and to live in peace.

I'm wondering what your thoughts are in these early months.

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

Yes. To be honest, I was and I'm still—less than I used to be, less than I was a couple of months ago—concerned with the situation of UNRWA.

I had the opportunity to speak to the director once, and I speak with some of my counterparts when I'm travelling. For example, last week in Washington, I had the opportunity to talk about it with my counterparts from other like-minded countries.

We are the only one of the G7 that is not funding UNRWA. I understand there were some specific events a couple of years ago that were definitely not appropriate, and I'm looking into this.

I understand that they have—I could use the words “cleaned up”—improved the way they work and manage. For example, the United States has asked for more....

The United States and other countries have strengthened the clauses concerning follow-up to ensure that this doesn't happen again. It's important to understand, though, that an organization like that and the context in which it works and the number of employees it has, it isn't unheard of that there will occasionally be problems, but we understand that this shouldn't be the norm. It still needs to be able to manage the risk a little, but not too much.

I'm still evaluating the situation. I want to make a fact-based decision. I have a lot of discussions on the matter. Honestly, it isn't simple. My mandate is to refocus the aid to the poorest and most vulnerable people, and the Palestinian refugees are certainly a very vulnerable group. The UNHCR isn't working in the area where UNRRA is present. There are currently Palestinian refugee camps in Syria where the UNHCR isn't present; UNRRA is there.

I don't have an answer, and I haven't finished thinking about it. I still need to have more discussions. I want to make a fact-based decision, but at the same time, we need to help the Palestinian refugees.

[Peter Kent, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Thank you.

I'll cede the rest of my time to my colleague.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Nault]

That is the time. We'll go right to Mr. Saini, please.

[Raj Saini, Liberal, Kitchener Centre, ON]

I have a quick question, Minister. It's a science question again. There's a strong rumour that science is back in Canada, so I want to stay within that theme.

When you talk about health data and accurate health data, you need accurate data to make informed policy decisions. Unfortunately, many developing countries do not have adequate systems for civil registration or vital statistics. Could you give us an idea of how Canada is working with developing countries to improve these systems?