Foreign Affairs Committee on April 10th, 2024

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

I just want to point out, Mr. Lebleu, that you don't have to convince me of the importance of foreign students for educational institutions. I myself was secretary general of the Cégep de Rimouski, and I know a thing or two about that. In fact, I'm worried about the federal government's decision, supposedly to combat unbridled population growth, to simply reduce the number of foreign students. That is the end of my aside.

General, the Hill Times reported that the Department of Defence and Canadian Armed Forces' departmental results for 2022-23 demonstrated a continuing decline in the navy's readiness, when only 51.2% of its fleet elements were deemed usable to meet training and readiness requirements in support of simultaneous operations.

Is this why Canada decided not to participate in Operation Projection, which is aimed at promoting peace and stability in support of the rules-based international order?

Also, is it possible to find out whether the navy will be participating in Exercise Obangame Express, in which it has been involved since 2018 and which involves 28 other countries, including the United States?

[MGen Gregory Smith]

Mr. Chair, I don't know the exact details, but, normally, we participate in the Phoenix Express and Obangame Express exercises.

Yes, we have a problem with the readiness of our ships. However, we usually participate in these activities.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

According to the information we have, this year Canada has chosen not to participate in Operation Projection. Is this due to the limited operational capability of our fleet?

[MGen Gregory Smith]

Mr. Chair, I don't know.

In my opinion, we are prepared to participate in this activity, but I will be able to confirm this by providing a written response to the committee.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Ms. McPherson, we'll go to you for the final question.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Again, thank you to the witnesses for being here today and sharing their expertise with us.

I have some questions. We talked a bit about Sudan. We talked about other regions on the continent. I'd like to ask a bit about the DRC, as well.

Of course, eastern DRC is another area where we're seeing unbelievable humanitarian emergencies happening. The use of sexual violence is shocking, as are the levels we are hearing about. We know cholera is present. We know malnutrition is present. Yet, we haven't seen any more humanitarian dollars announced, despite the fact that many organizations have asked for that.

Is there a plan for more humanitarian aid to go into that part of the continent?

[Marcel Lebleu]

Generally speaking, the size of the humanitarian aid envelope for Africa is constant. The sums it contains can be redistributed, but there is no increase. Recommendations for the current year must be made by the minister. This is his decision, and he bases it on the recommendations of his departmental officials. I can give you figures for the last year.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo, or DRC, is one of the countries that receives the most humanitarian aid from Canada, all forms of aid combined, i.e., humanitarian aid, displacement aid, etc. You mentioned the victims of the conflict in the east. We work with Dr. Mukwege's foundation, the Panzi Foundation. Dr. Mukwege is world-renowned and won the Nobel Prize for Medicine. This is the country that receives the most—

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

I'm sorry. I'm going to have to interrupt. You'll understand, as I have such a small amount of time.

I want to bring something up. We look at conflicts around the continent and see that there are a number of places where there's a potential for terrorist organizations, or organizations identified as “terrorist entities”, to be in charge or to have some role to play within certain regions of the continent.

BillC-41 was the bill that came forward intended to be used with regard to Afghanistan, in order to make sure we could get aid into Afghanistan. We still have not had any documentation or guidance provided for Bill C-41.

I'd like to hear what impact the bill could have on organizations working in Africa.

[Susan Steffen]

Bill C-41 is an important bill for looking at ensuring that humanitarian assistance can get to populations that need it, even if they're in places where terrorist activities do happen.

That's the extent to which I wish to pronounce on it here because we're not responsible for that piece of—

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Do you have any idea when—

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

I'm sorry, Ms. McPherson, your time is up.

At this point, on behalf of the entire committee, I want to thank all our witnesses: Ms. Kumar, Mr. Lebleu, Ms. Delany, Major-General Smith, Ms. Urban and Ms. Steffen.

Thank you very much for your time, your insights and your expertise. You've ensured that our first session on Africa is off to a great start. We're very grateful for it.

Before the members depart, I want to make sure that everyone has received the budget for the Africa study. It was circulated to all of you.

Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the budget?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Thank you very much.

This meeting now stands adjourned.