Foreign Affairs Committee on March 12th, 2020

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I want to address a question that many Canadians and people around the world are worried about: what we see as the relentless advances of settlements in the occupied territories in the Middle East. Canada, of course, supports a two-state solution.

I really have two questions.

It's not easy, and I think you'd say that we support international human rights even when it's not easy. This is a situation that has been going on for many years, and some fear that it's going to go on for many more and that there will finally be no way to get out of it. What do you have to say about that in terms of Canada's efforts and position, and what is Canada doing to advance the two-state solution that it has put forth for the last many years?

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

As you know, my colleague Mr. Harris served in the House for a long time. Canada's position with respect to Israel has always been to further the goal of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, which includes the creation of a Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with Israel.

I think we always need to renew these efforts and we always need to think about how we can have a viable two-state solution with two states living side by side in peace and security. We are an ally of Israel, but we are also a friend of the Palestinian people. When it comes to the settlement, as you know, our policy in Canada has been consistent for many years. We do not recognize the permanent Israeli-controlled territories that were occupied in 1967. We are always trying to find ways, and we are looking at promoting dialogue, because that situation can only be solved by involvement of the parties negotiating directly.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

Is there time for a follow-up question?

[The Vice-Chair, Bloc, Stéphane Bergeron]

Absolutely. You have about a minute and a half left.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

Can you tell us what Canada is doing to help the Palestinians prepare for statehood? The Israeli state has been up and running for many years, since 1948, but the Palestinians are having difficulty developing capacity and capability. What is Canada doing to assist in that effort?

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

That's a very important question.

We have been involved with UNRWA for a number of years. We've been trying to help vulnerable Palestinians who need assistance. We have refugees and we have been there to provide assistance, and we will continue to do so. We have been monitoring UNRWA very closely, however, because there have been some allegations. We're monitoring the assistance that's being provided, and we will continue to do so. UNRWA, for those watching at home, is the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, which has been providing assistance to the Palestinian people.

[The Vice-Chair, Bloc, Stéphane Bergeron]

Thank you, Mr. Minister.

We will now begin another round of questions.

Ms. Alleslev, you have the floor for five minutes.

[Leona Alleslev, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Thank you very much.

I'm going to ask for some specific documents, if I might. I'm looking for the number of diplomats, I'm looking for the number of trade commissioners and I'm looking for the number of staff and their respective locations for the countries in the European Union, for China, for the countries involved in the CPTPP trade agreement, for the U.K., Brazil and India, Minister.

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

Sure.

[Leona Alleslev, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

They're quite difficult to get hold of.

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

Mr. Chair, I'll be happy to do that. I'm sure the member won't hold it against me that I don't have all of these numbers off the top of my head, just like that, but we'll be happy to provide them in writing.

[Leona Alleslev, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

I'm not holding it against you, but I'm surprised, because I know you usually do.

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

Yes, but with those ones, you caught me. I can't remember exactly in the CPTPP countries.

[Leona Alleslev, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Also, I know that an impact assessment has been prepared. I wonder if we could have a copy of that for the Mercosur trade conversation that's ongoing right now with Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.

I'm wondering if we could also have a copy of the impact assessment for the new NAFTA. While I recognize that this was done based on a comparison with no trade agreement, I wonder if we could have an impact assessment for the old NAFTA versus the new USMCA.

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

Thank you for that very detailed question.

I will turn to one outstanding Canadian who has been at the forefront of all of these negotiations, Steve Verheul. Maybe you want to provide a bit of additional feedback to—

[Leona Alleslev, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

I don't need any. I'm looking.... We'll have lots of opportunity to ask you questions about them after we've had a chance to look at the documents.

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

I would say to the extent they exist. The only reason I was turning to my official is that I don't know if all the documents you refer to exist, so that's why, before I responded.... I want to know if they exist before I can tell you if we're going to provide them.

[Leona Alleslev, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

If they don't, you can let me know—

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

Okay.

[Leona Alleslev, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

—at a different point, because I'd also like to understand how.... I know that we started negotiations on the Mercosur in March of 2018. I'm wondering if you could give us an idea of how close you are to a deal.

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

Thank you for asking me that.

You're going back to my days when I was the international trade minister for Canada, so I do remember where we started. I would not be able to tell the committee exactly where we are at this point. Mr. Verheul might be able to provide you with a status update, if you allow me.

I do know when we started it, because I was part of it, but maybe, Steve, you have some additional details.

[Steve Verheul, Chief Negotiator and Assistant Deputy Minister, Trade Policy and Negotiations, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development]

Well, I can tell you that we have been planning the next round with our Mercosur colleagues to take place within the next couple of weeks, but like many other events, that one is a bit up in the air at the moment. We haven't made a final decision on whether or not that will take place, but we have been proceeding steadily with that negotiation.

[Leona Alleslev, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Thank you very much.

I know that there's also another trade agreement that you're working on with India since August 2017. Unfortunately, perhaps our country was not put in the best light when our Prime Minister went there in February 2018, so I'm wondering if that has had an impact on our trade negotiations with India, or if those negotiations are also progressing and getting closer to a conclusion.

[The Vice-Chair, Bloc, Stéphane Bergeron]

You have less than one minute left.

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

I can say that I have a very good relationship with the foreign minister of India. You may recall that when we met for the first time at the G20, he came to Canada less than 20 days after our first meeting. We did discuss. We have the FIPA with India, which is outstanding—the foreign investment protection agreement, I should say—and we have been trying to finalize that with India. I have talked to the minister.

As you know, India is reviewing its own domestic policy with respect to foreign investment protection agreements and trade agreements in general, so they are—