Foreign Affairs Committee on March 12th, 2020

[Dave Epp, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

Aside from that cruise ship, I'm going to go specifically to the whole border all the way across the country. Are we tracking? What are we doing for protocol across that border now, specifically in relation to COVID-19?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

That's what I was saying. Officials are talking, I would think, more than regularly with respect to all the measures that are being taken.

As you know, yesterday some measures were announced by the president. My understanding is that they come into effect at midnight tomorrow. People have been talking. Our ambassador in Washington has been in touch with U.S. officials, and we are always talking to each other. The common goal that we have is to find out how to stop the spread of the virus.

So far, if you compare North America with Europe and other parts of the world and if you look at the number of cases in the population, for the measures that have been implemented on both sides of the border—we're both sovereign nations, but we have relied on health officials and the World Health Organization—you would say that we have implemented the right measures to protect Canadians.

[Dave Epp, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

Exactly.

I'll pick up on the American move to block or to cancel flights from Europe and my Bloc colleague's questioning. I have the fortune to live in Leamington, which is actually south of Detroit. For international travel, I actually often use Detroit as my international airport. Leamington is also a town with a large diaspora of Italians.

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Yes, I've been there.

[Dave Epp, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

What are we doing at that border crossing to track and to monitor? I think you said you were not aware of people coming in from Europe through American ports or coming into Canada or the other way around. Are we tracking anything along those lines?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

As I said to our colleague earlier, I have to work on the basis of facts. The measures that have been announced by the United States have not yet taken effect. There's no indication of the type of flow that you're talking about. We are talking with U.S. officials and will continue to talk and to take all the measures that are necessary to protect Canadians both here and abroad.

That's why I talked to my Italian colleague this morning—well, at lunch time. It was to make sure I understand what the impact was for him. My question was also about how effective the border closures were, because they had to take measures.

We had a number of discussions. That's the best thing we can do to protect Canadians. Those who are watching at home understand we've been doing that 24-7.

[Dave Epp, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

You referenced Italy's monitoring of individual cases. That was actually very effective in reducing the spread, possibly even more than border closures. What is Canada doing right now?

You speak of measures. Are we tracking that? Could this committee receive some data on that tracking and on those measures and reports as this unfolds?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

I appreciate your question. For Canadians who are watching at home, we have done almost daily press briefings. If you wanted further details about some of the measures, the Minister of Public Safety would be the one to provide you with the types of details you're looking for.

Just as we did in the Iranian crash—

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Leona Alleslev]

You have 30 seconds.

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

—we have been providing daily information to Canadians. We understand that in times like these, we need to inform. We need to reassure. We need to be forthcoming with Canadians. We'll continue to do so.

[Dave Epp, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

Thank you, Minister.

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Thank you, sir.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Leona Alleslev]

MP Spengemann is next.

[Sven Spengemann, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Minister, I'd like to take you back to the feminist international assistance policy.

You've spoken recently at CORIM, which is the Conseil des relations internationales de Montréal. You've indicated that you're interested in developing a white paper on the feminist foreign policy. I wonder if you could take a moment just to elaborate for Canadians why that policy is important, but I think more importantly, what we're seeing in terms of its impact now.

There's some very good messaging coming out. For those of us who are engaged in parliamentary diplomacy, the policy is known among our counterparts, but maybe there's more to say to Canadians and to people abroad about the importance of this policy.

Also, what is the frontier? What are the boundaries we're trying to push in the next phase of this policy?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Thank you very much for that question. Yes, when I did my speech on foreign policy, I did say that we would do a white paper on our feminist foreign policy.

The reason is that around the world people see the impact on the ground and they want us to document that and to engage civil society as well. I think all parliamentarians can certainly endorse our approach.

We have implemented a number of measures. For example, when we appointed Ambassador Jacqui O'Neill as our ambassador for women, peace and security, this was transformative. She's going around the world to provide positive examples of what a feminist policy can do around the world.

We had an earlier question that asked what concrete actions we are taking. Let me be clear to Canadians who are watching: This is more than a slogan. This is really about demonstrable impacts on the ground. We will provide that in a white paper.

Many nations have been asking us to give them some examples. There's the contingent of women we sent policing in Mali, for example. The way we have been policing has been making a difference, as well as the way we have sent women on peacekeeping forces, the Elsie initiative and the Vancouver principles. All of these things we have been doing.

People around the world look at these things. Canada is really leading by example. Hopefully we can engage other nations through that white paper. We understand that Canada alone cannot necessarily transform all, but we can do it by sharing and engaging others to speak with one voice with us about the power of engaging women and of gender equality in the world.

[Sven Spengemann, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

Minister, in post-conflict settings, presumably you see large numbers of households that are headed by a single woman. The husband may have been killed or displaced or have fled, and there are multiple children, so economic empowerment at the micro level is equally as important as security considerations.

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

I would say so. I always say you need security to bring stability to bring prosperity.

I'll give you the example of Mali. I was with the President of Mali. Because of the conflict, 900 schools have been closed. You're losing, potentially, a generation. Those who are the most impacted are young girls and women. When the area is unsafe, they cannot go out. Girls don't go to school because they've been closed, so it's really creating a deplorable environment. That's why we're there with MINUSMA. We're trying to make a difference on the ground, and we'll continue to do so.

[Sven Spengemann, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

Minister, I want to take the remainder of the time to ask you about Africa and Canada-Africa relations.

Africa's a vast economic, cultural and social space, with very heterogeneous, very different regions. What do you see as some priority areas of engagement? You mentioned Mali. There are many other opportunities. Which ones are high on your list in terms of what you're thinking about? There are all sorts of opportunities: economic development, democracy development, security, business-to-business partnerships.

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Thank you for asking me that. I think I went to Africa three times in three months. Now with the coronavirus, my plan for more visits might be curbed.

Yes, we went to North Africa. I was in Morocco to strengthen our relationship. I went with the Prime Minister to the African Union. We were in Senegal. We were in Mali.

We were there to learn and engage. Many of the African nations, whether or not they share la Francophonie with us, want us to partner more closely.

What Canada has been talking about is how we can have a positive impact on security. How can we provide the building block of stability in institutions and governance to make sure we provide economic security?

Our goal at the United Nations is about economic security, because we understand that until and unless you provide economic security—

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Leona Alleslev]

You have 30 seconds, Minister.

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

You want to empower people. I think I saw statistics that six of the 10 youngest populations in the world are in Africa, if my memory serves me well. When you say that half of the population in 2050 will be in Africa, these people will want to have an education, they will want to have work and they will want to make a contribution. Think about the power of these women in Africa if we push for gender equality.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Leona Alleslev]

That's time. Thank you very much.

MP Genuis is next.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I'm going to try to clean up a few of what I think are loose ends from the discussion in this final round. I feel that I need to start by responding to the outrageous misstatement of our position by Ms. Sahota.

I want you to know, Minister, that our party would love to see Canada on the UN Security Council. What we're concerned about is some of the decisions that seem to be made with an eye to getting that seat, such as the decision of your government to vote in favour of a North Korean-sponsored resolution that singled out Israel. We haven't seen resolutions put forward on other human rights issues, yet Canada broke from what had been our pattern and voted in favour of that resolution.

I just want to drill down. If Canada is successful—and we hope Canada is successful—can you commit to us that you will champion substantial UN reform from the Security Council, that you will make it a priority that the UN address some of these perverse outcomes, such as Iran and Saudi Arabia being on the women's rights commission? Under your leadership, will Canada be a champion for substantial reform at the UN if Canada has that position?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

First of all, I'd like to thank you for being a champion of our seat on the UN Security Council. I look forward to your coming with me and championing Canada around the world so we can work together to make sure we get the seat and bring the positive voice and the reforms you would like to see.

From the beginning, we have seen that reform is needed. We need an institution that fits the purpose, that fits the challenges of the 21st century. We have been engaged. As you know, we're the chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, and already we are trying to make a difference there to make sure that we provide more stability and predictability and engage in stability in these missions, not only on the military side but also in the need to build civil society and institutions.

I think we've been saying that. If you have some suggestions, I'm sure that we'd be willing to listen to you, but yes, we intend to bring a reform agenda with other countries. I think many have spoken already in the UN to say there are some voices that need to be heard a bit louder than they are today.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Thank you, Minister. We'll hold your feet to the fire on that. Thank you for saying that. I appreciate it.

On the issue of Sri Lanka that Mr. Fonseca brought up—and I appreciate his raising it—I want to be more specific, because this is where the rubber hits the road.

I asked the Prime Minister in the House on February 26 if we would join the U.S. in applying sanctions to the Sri Lankan army chief, Shavendra Silva. I didn't get an answer from the Prime Minister at the time.

Again, I think statements matter. Statements of concern are important. You said Canada is a leader in responding to human rights in Sri Lanka. Let's put our money where our mouth is. If I look at the Magnitsky sanctions list, there are no officials in Sri Lanka who have been listed. Are you considering listing Mr. Silva and others involved?